Kakinada:-East Godavari Collector D Muralidhara Reddy inaugurated the single donor platelet (SDP) machine at the blood bank wing of the government general hospital here on Wednesday.

He said Kakinada GGH was the only government hospital in the state to be equipped with a SDP machine. As a part of the efforts to ensure improved medical care in the government hospitals, he said, the machine was provided with state government funds.

"Several patients, especially those suffering from Dengue and other viral fevers are dying due to steep fall in platelet cells count in the blood. Timely administering of platelet cells that too of a single blood donor, could save valuable lives. The machine is of great help to such patients and all white card holders could avail the facility," he added.