<p>COVID-19 has presented itself as one of the biggest global health challenges in the last 100 years. Healthcare professionals all over the world are providing extraordinary care to all patients, while looking for ways to treat them.
</p><p>Pakistan's tally has now crossed 113,000 and more than 2,200 people have lost their lives due to the disease. While research continues to understand the virus, there is still no approved treatment to cure patients. </p><p><span style="color: #f0191e; text-decoration: none solid #f0191e;"><strong>WILL WE EVER HAVE A CURE TO THIS DISEASE?</strong></span><strong> </strong></p><p>In efforts to save potential lives, researchers are working on new drugs and vaccines to find a cure for COVID-19. Researchers are now also exploring the use of <strong>Convalescent Plasma (CP)</strong> collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19, to treat other patients suffering from the disease. Convalescent plasma is a rich source of antibodies that can kill the virus and help treat patients who have severe illness from the diseases or are critical. Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies against the virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19; these antibodies from recovered patients can help other patients fight the infection.
</p><p>In response to the need of the time, the researchers at the Aga Khan University are putting their best efforts to conduct this investigational treatment. The researchers collect Convalescent Plasma from people who have recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 infection safely through a plasmapheresis procedure (a process in which the plasma is separated from the blood). The experience for the patient is similar to a blood donation.This collected convalescent plasma is then transfused to patients who are admitted at The Aga Khan University Hospital in a severe/critical COVID-19 condition. As a Joint Commission International-accredited hospital, the Aga Khan University Hospital follows stringent safety protocols and all the necessary precautions are taken during this process.</p><p>
</p><p><span style="color: #f0191e; text-decoration: none solid #f0191e;"><strong>HOW CAN YOU PLAY YOUR PART?</strong></span> </p><p>If you have recovered from COVID-19, your plasma donation can make a huge difference and you may be able to save a Life! </p><p>Always keep yourself and others safe by following all the safety guidelines provided by healthcare organisations and the Government.
</p><p>More information on COVID-19 is available on: <a href="/pakistan/COVID-19-Updates/Pages/default.aspx" style="background-color: #ffffff;">https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/COVID-19-Updates/Pages/default.aspx</a>
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