Doni Monardo Showcases The COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Donors: It’s Not Scary

JAKARTA - The Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo exhibited virtual COVID-19 convalescent plasma donor activities. Doni said that plasma donors are not scary.

Convalescent plasma is blood plasma taken from a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been declared cured of COVID-19 for 14 days as evidenced by a negative RT-PCR swab test once with a negative result.

"It's not scary. It can be seen. This is the machine, this is the blood bag. So, it's not scary and there are no side effects", Doni said via a video conference broadcast on YouTube BNPB Indonesia, Monday, March 1.

When showing plasma donation, his blood bag was filled 50 percent of the 400 cc. During the donation period, Doni admitted that there was no difference with normal blood donation.

"It feels the same as we donate regular blood. Only there is a lot of equipment, so there is a slight difference because of the equipment alone. There are no other striking feelings", said Doni.

Therefore, Doni appealed to fellow COVID-19 survivors to participate in donating convalescent plasma. Because this can help cure other COVID-19 patients.

"I hope that all parties who have been COVID-19 survivors will voluntarily become donors. With our donors, more patients who are currently being treated will be able to recover", he explained.

Previously, The State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir said that convalescent plasma transfusions donated by COVID-19 survivors were an additional alternative for treating COVID-19 patients and could reduce the number of deaths due to COVID-19.

Erick Thohir has held a BUMN plasma program simultaneously in 15 provinces in Indonesia. Currently, there are 1.048 registrants of convalescent plasma donors from 66 state companies in 33 provinces in Indonesia.