Day: May 13, 2021

Guidelines for Ayurveda & Unani Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients

MINISTRY OF AYUSH
Note dated 26th April 2021

Guidelines for Ayurveda & Unani Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in
Home Isolation and Ayurveda & Unani Preventive Measures for self care
during COVID-19 Pandemic released by Ministry of Ayush
Guidelines for Ayurveda & Unani Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home
Isolation and Ayurveda & Unani Preventive Measures for self care during COVID19 Pandemic were released by Ministry of Ayush, Government of India on 26th
April 2021.
These guidelines for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation and Preventive
Measures for self care are based on based on leads from classical Ayurveda &
Unani texts, outcome of research studies, Report & Recommendations of the
Interdisciplinary Committee and which will further strengthen our fight in
combating COVID-19 in the emerging situation.
These Guidelines and Advisories were developed through extensive consultative
process by Empowered Committee within the Interdisciplinary Ayush Research
and Development Task Force setup by Ministry of Ayush. The Project
Monitoring Unit for COVID-19 Studies, Central Council for Research in
Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
(CCRUM), All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and National Medicinal Plant
Board (NMPB) of this Ministry worked on formulating the advisories and
Guidelines.
The present Guidelines and self care measures provide clear guidance to Ayurveda
& Unani practitioners regarding treatment of COVID-19 patients in different
conditions of infection. This brings in uniformity and consistency in the Ayushbased responses to the pandemic across the country. It also helps State/UT
Governments to plan and incorporate these solutions into the COVID-19
management activities being deployed on the ground. Furthermore, these measures
and guidelines contribute to the mainstreaming of Ayush solutions for the
management of COVID-19, and will be immensely beneficial to the public since
these solutions are easily accessible and will help to alleviate the hardships brought
in by the pandemic.
These are aimed to increase awareness among the citizens regarding the effective
home care solutions and recommended Ayush practices, to help them to enhance
their immunity along with standard guideline for Ayurveda & Unani Practitioners
for management of prophylactic, Asymptomatic and Mild cases of COVID-19
during home isolation. Ministry of Ayush issued an advisory on 29.01.2020 on
how to protect oneself from COVID-19 and how to stay healthy. In this context,
Ministry of Ayush has also promoted use of ready-made formulation like ‘Ayush
Kwath’(Ayurveda) which is a simple admixture of four herbal ingredients which
are well known in India and outside India for their immunomodulatory and antiviral activities along with several other health benefits. Considering the seasonal
changes, patient’s constitution it has been advised that Vasa (Malabar nut),
Yashtimadhu (Liquorice root) and Guduchi (Giloy) may be added to the Kwatha as
per requirement.
Keeping note on the present public health challenges due to second wave of
COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent requirement to disseminate information
about the Guidelines for Ayurveda & Unani Practitioners for the management of
COVID-19 patients during home isolation. The effective evidence based Ayurveda
and Unani formulations/measures such as AYUSH-64, Ashwagandha tablets etc.
have been included for the management of Asymptomatic and Mild cases of
COVID-19 during home isolation.
These guidelines are provided as separate documents on the Ayush Ministry’s
website. Further, similar guidelines based the other Ayush systems are expected to
be released shortly.

করোনার নতুন আতঙ্কের আবহে সিয়ানের

করোনার নতুন আতঙ্কের আবহে সিয়ানের “শান্তিনিকেতন সেবানিকেতন” নার্সিংহোমের অভিনব উদ্যোগ…

“শান্তিনিকেতন সেবানিকেতন” এখন সাময়িকভাবে করোনা হাসপাতাল হিসেবে কাজ করছে। করোনা রোগীদের চিকিৎসার জন্য রয়েছেন বিশিষ্ট ডাক্তার বাবুরা ও রোগীদের চিকিৎসার জন্য রয়েছে সুব্যবস্থা।বর্তমান পরিস্থিতিতে শান্তিনিকেতন সেবানিকেতন এ করোনা রোগীদের চিকিৎসার খুব ভালোভাবে হচ্ছে এবং অনেক রোগীই সুস্থ হয়ে বাড়ি ফিরছেন। শান্তিনিকেতন সেবানিকেতন নার্সিং হোম থেকে অনেক পেশেন্টই সুস্থ হয়ে বাড়ি ফিরছেন। এই পরিস্থিতিতে পেশেন্টদের সুস্থতা সত্যিই অভাবনীয়। বর্তমানে যে সমস্ত প্রেশেন্ট চিকিৎসার মধ্যে রয়েছেন আশা করা যায় খুব তাড়াতাড়ি ওনারা সুস্থ হয়ে বাড়ি ফিরবেন। যে সমস্ত প্রেশেন্ট সুস্থ হয়েছেন এবং বাড়ি ফিরছেন তার কিছু চিত্র এখানে তুলে ধরা হল।

COVID Awareness & Counseling

The solution from Swadhin involves creating mass awareness through a combination Social Media and with our Health warriors The information shared is in strict compliance with Government protocols and available in the local languages. The contents focus on the following areas:
• Measures on social distancing
• Hand washing hygiene & procedure
• Understanding symptoms of COVID-19 and taking adequate measures
• Awareness building to seek doctor’s consultation
• Addressing phobia around quarantines and self isolation
• Address mental distress & anxiety
• Questionnaire for self assessment based on symptomatic behavior
• Questionnaire to assess awareness level
In order to drive the mass awareness and counseling, Swadhin has developed an initiative to train frontline health workers on a Train-The-Trainer approach. These Trainers will in turn train area volunteers/ representatives. These trained members will be deployed in the identified areas for awareness, counseling and identification of high risk members.

• The Doctor will be able to view patient details before, during and after the call. This includes demographics, vitals and clinical information such as prescriptions and results.
• The doctor can enter the prescription in the webinar and this can be viewed by the patient.

Pandemic and Primary Health Care

The situation has become a common phenomenon in rural India. As per the Govt. of India data, it has been revealed that due to huge expense in health, approximately six crores thirty lakhs population fall under Below Poverty Level (BPL). The situation has even become worsened in the midst of lockdown. Primary Health Care Centers (PHC) supposed to be the first point of contact for Covid-19 patients. Taking experience from China and Italy, it has been suggested that of all patients with the disease, 5-10 percent of them become severely ill and need admission to a health facility. About 70 percent of these patients can be managed with supportive care and oxygen, which can be provide through PHCs. PHCs are the frontline health providers and also awareness campaigns could be deliver by the Primary Health Care Centers. But the real situation is truly bitter. ‘Good Doctors’ are not available in maximum number of PHCs. People have to travel so long to avail the health care delivery system. The coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) has created a huge pressure on the healthcare system in our nation. As per the orders of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it has been revealed that the parental and vaccination of pregnant women supposed to take place at Primary and Community Health Centers. However, it was observed that these services were largely ignored during the lockdown. According to the Pradhan Mantri Safal Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), around 44,000 women die every year due to pregnancy-related complications whereas 6.6 lakhs children die within 28 days of birth. As per Gaon Connection survey, it has been found that only 29 per cent pregnant women confirmed check-ups and vaccination in West Bengal. While the condition of PHCs are down, even the situation of Govt. hospitals are also horrible. As per the recent data from World Bank, it has been estimated that only 0.7 beds are available for 1000 population and numbers vary in different states. For instance, 1.05 beds are available in Kerala followed by 1.1 in Tamilnadu, whereas 1.05 beds in Delhi and 2.25 beds are available in West-Bengal for 1000 patients. The ratio between doctors and patients is so alarming. Less than 1 doctor (0.857) is only available per 100 patients. The 21st century is witnessing the changes in travel and trade, urbanization, environmental degradation and other trends that increase the risk of disease outbreaks, their spread and amplification into epidemics and pandemics. At the same time, the science and knowledge around infectious hazards are constantly evolving. Now, India is about to reach fifty lakhs mark for Covid-19 situation. As per the data, India is the second worst hit country in the world. Renowned scientists and notable doctors are commenting that if we consider our population is 140 crores out of which, 60%-70% (approximately 60 crores to 70 crores) must be infected with Covid-19, so that herd-immunity would be creating among rest of the population before discovering and producing an effective vaccine to eradicate Covid-19.