In the heart of Santiago, Chile, Dr. Raimundo Gacitua and Dr. Carolina Selman Bravo are leading a pioneering effort to fight COVID-19 using convalescent plasma therapy. Inspired by early research from the Chinese mainland, which demonstrated the potential of plasma from recovered patients to treat those battling the virus, the doctors at the Arturo Lopez Perez Foundation are making significant strides in their mission.
At the beginning of March, with vaccines and artificial antibodies still out of reach, the team estimated they would need around 100 plasma donors to make a meaningful impact. However, their efforts quickly gained momentum, and the number of willing donors surged to 450. Among these donors is Luis Eduardo Salas, a COVID-19 survivor who responded eagerly to the call to help others by donating his plasma.
Encouraged by the promising preliminary results from the Chinese mainland, Dr. Gacitua and Dr. Bravo are hopeful that this therapy will significantly reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19 in Chile. Their dedication and the growing support from the community highlight the resilience and collaborative spirit needed to overcome the ongoing pandemic.
Reference(s):
The Global Guardians: Chilean doctors use plasma to treat COVID-19
cgtn.com
