GRP launches Plasma Connect to help link donors, recipients

To provide relief to those who are in need of plasma, the Government Railway Police (GRP) of Mumbai on Thursday started an initiative called Plasma Connect, to help connect plasma donors and recipients.

In GRP Mumbai, over 700 personnel had got affected with Covid-19 and the department is making optimum use of these personnel to act as donors and help recipients. The initiative is a brainchild of senior IPS officer Quaiser Khalid.

"People are in need of plasma a lot and are searching for plasma. When we were doing analysis of GRP personnel as to how many of them were affected with Covid-19, we found out that more than 700 of our own personnel were infected. We had seven casualties as well. We then thought that if we can help people with antibodies that we have in our force then it will be a great service to the society,” said GRP Commissioner Quaiser Khalid.

He further said, “We then decided to create a bank, connect the person in need of plasma with the donor. We then tied up with an NGO who helped us with a toll free number. Their trained five member staff of call takers makes the process even smooth. Now we have a list of people who can donate plasma. We have also made provisions that if someone wants to register as a donor with us they can approach us."

He added, those in need of plasma can seek more information on 1800 1200 80000 or 1512 (24x7 Railway Police Helpline Number).

"Once a person who is in need of plasma calls the Helpline, details of the patient, blood group, hospital and area is taken and then the plasma donation process starts. We have also made a provision that if any of our personnel has to go out for plasma donation then we will give leave to that personnel on that day ," Khalid said.