PANJIM: In a bid to bring down the COVID cases and mortalities, the Goa government on Monday approved a “prophylaxis” treatment protocol, wherein it recommends that all persons above the age of 18 take five tablets of the drug Ivermectin. Citizens, irrespective of the vaccination and having co-morbidity, can follow the treatment to prevent a steep or even fatal viral fever.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government will start the prophylaxis treatment for those above 18 years from Tuesday as a preventive measure to fight COVID-19.
He said that patients will be treated with Ivermectin 12mg for a period of five days.
The tablet will be made available free at all the District, Sub-district, PHCs, CHCs, Sub Health Centers, Rural Medical Dispensaries as well as Goa Medical College so that people can come and collect the medication and start the treatment immediately, irrespective of any symptoms or anything,
“I have given instructions for immediate implementation of the prophylaxis treatment. It should start from tomorrow (Tuesday). Goa would be probably the first State in the country to introduce this treatment,” he said.
The Health Minister said that expert panels from UK, Italy, Spain and Japan, found a large, statistically significant reduction in mortality, time to recovery and viral clearance in Covid-19 patients treated with Ivermectin
“In Goa, too, the aim is to reduce the mortality and positivity rate. The State expert panel was of the view that we can start the treatment even on children above 10 years. But we decided to introduce this for those above 18 years, for now,” he added.
Rane said this treatment does not prevent COVID-19 infection but helps reduce the severity of the disease and at the same time people should not have a false sense of security and complacency but strictly take all precautionary measures and follow laid SOPs.
Responding to a question, Rane said that even a person who has received the vaccine or has a co-morbid condition, can take the tablets as there are no side effects.
