Dispur: The Indian Army, in response to the Assam government for plasma donation, has undertaken a drive for the COVID-19 patients of the state. On August 19, Indian Army in collaboration with Assam State Health Department organised a Plasma donation camp at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital.

Over 40 Army personnel of Gajaraj Corps, who recently recovered from COVID-19, donated their Plasma. Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, GOC of Gajaraj Corps Lt. Gen Shantanu Dayaland and other military and civilian dignitaries graced the occasion.

Thanking the Army personnel who were infected with the deadly virus and who have in turn now jumped as the COVID warriors, State Health Minister Dr Sarma recognized the contributions of Gajaraj Corps in the fight against COVID-19 and appreciated Indian Army and its ethos of assisting the people of Assam.

Significantly, Assam is the worst affected state in Northeast India. Assam has so far recorded 84,317 COVID-19 positive cases of which 60,348 have been discharged and 23,763 are still active. The death toll due to COVID-19 has also mounted to 213. Assam Government launched a Plasma donation campaign since July 16 in what it calls “aggressive treatment” of COVID-19 patients with moderate symptoms in order to reduce the number of fatalities.

The state government, in fact, decided to invite Plasma donors from all over the country in a bid to carry forward its policy of “aggressive treatment” of COVID-19 patients. The government said that the donors will be treated as state guests and they will avail free airfare and stay along with appreciation letters for their contribution. For donors from Assam, the state government will be giving them preference in government schemes and they may get a preferential allocation of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.