Thousands queue up for concoction against Covid
Though the authorities have not approved the so-called ‘Ayurvedic preparation’ for Covid19, prepared by Bonigi Anandaiah, thousands of people, including critical Covid patients in ambulances, queued up for the concoction for hours, awaiting their turn in serpentine lines at Krishnapatnam village in Nellore district on Friday.
The mixture was being distributed by Anandaiah, a self-proclaimed Ayurvedic practitioner, free for nearly a month, before the Nellore administration a couple of days back ordered temporary halt.
Defying authorities, local legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy resumed the programme on Friday, causing desperate people to rush there for the scientifically unproven mixture. A team of Ayurvedic doctors from the Department of Ayush has been sent to enquire ● AS PER the suggestion of Ayush medical team, they distributed only oral preparation on Friday and skipped the eye drops. about the medicine and submit a report to the government.
The expert team reported that none of those who took the concoction complained of any ill-effects and mentioned that one of the Covid patients claimed his oxygen levels rise to 95 from 83 in just an hour after getting two drops in his eyes.
“We are preparing the medicine with natural ingredients and no harmful substances are used. We are making and distributing it in three categories – one for preventing Covid, the second one is for those with mild symptoms and the third one is for infected persons who need oxygen support,” Anandaiah said.
The police personnel had a tough time controlling the crowds and even resorted to a slight lathi-charge to disperse the huge gathering.
As per the suggestion of Ayush medical team, they distributed only oral preparation on Friday and skipped the eye drops. After some time, they ran out of the concoction and distribution had to be stopped.
Meanwhile, the AP government has decided to send concoction to ICMR for a detailed study of its efficacy. Besides, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu asked Union Ayush minister Kiren Rijiju, and ICMR Director Balram Bhargava to conduct a study on the preparation.
At a high-level review meeting on Covid-19 in Amaravati on Friday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to get scientific evidence for the concoction, which is being promoted by his partyu MLA Govardhan Reddy. The CM decided to get it studied by the ICMR and other experts to find out its efficacy.