The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine has revealed that blood samples from patients who have recovered from Covid-19 is going to be used to treat patients with weak immunity.
Dr Atwine says discussions to collect the blood are already ongoing.
She says evidence has proved that the blood is effective in helping those with weak immunities fight the deadly disease.
“We are discussing to start picking blood from people who have recovered. But we are still in very early stages of doing that,” Dr Atwine said.
“What they do is that they get antibodies from people who have recovered and infuse it on another person so that those antibodies fight on behalf of the person with weak immunity,”
She, however, revealed that the process is not automatic. The people to donate the blood have to consent first.
“These things involving human life have many protocols that must be undertaken. It is not just something that can be done quickly like that. It requires the proposal, institutional review board, full review and approval.”
Dr Misaki Wayengera, the chairperson of Scientific Advisory Board on Covid-19 at the ministry, says scientists have started requesting those who have recovered to donate their blood.