Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa has become the first State in the country to give ayurvedic treatment to COVID-19 patients and suspects to boost their immunity.
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Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the government, in coordination with its medical team, has begun ayurveda treatment to boost immunity of COVID-19 patients and suspects. “Goa is the first State. It is to boost their immunity,” he said. The allopathy treatment to cure the positive patients, however, continues.
His statement comes at a time when Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik has been repeatedly expressing confidence that COVID-19 can be treated with ayurveda. He had also said that in the absence of scientific validation, the ancient Indian medicinal stream has only been used as a preventive measure during the current crisis.
The government has also launched an app through the AYUSH Ministry, which covers all related information. “The app has been launched for the awareness among the general public. All information regarding treatment, immunity booting, diet and related data is fed in it. The contacts of Ayurvedic doctors are also advertised,” the CM said.
Speaking at length, regarding the controversy surrounding the community survey slated to begin on April 13; Sawant assured that all preventive measures will be taken by the field teams as this initiative is to prevent community transmission.
“There is confusion about the community survey. It is not a political decision but it is an exercise undertaken in consultation with the health team of doctors from GMC, Health Department and others. The community survey is for the welfare of all. In future, it will benefit all of us. The survey is important so that there is no community transmission,” he said. The survey will be on similar lines to that carried out in Rajasthan’s Bilwara district, where the number of positive cases has drastically come down.
“My Health Secretary and I have studied the Bilwara model thoroughly. I request all people to give correct details during the survey and cooperate with the survey team,” the CM said, while displaying the form used by the Bilwara administration.
He also assured that the survey is not meant to quarantine or test all people, but instead recommend COVID-19 tests on suspects.
Sawant also said that 164 of the 191 panchayats in the State have commenced pre-monsoon works, and that similar works have also started at municipalities and a the National Highway level.
The State has exported 50,000 litres of alcohol-based sanitisers to other States as liquor breweries are manufacturing sanitisers to cater to the growing demand in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Of around 70,000 litres sanitizer liquid, 50,000 have sent to other States and 20,000 litres has been used within the State as well as for Navy establishments, etc.
