Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, around 1,60,000 people have gone into home isolation in Kerala.
Of these, 643 people with more chances of contracting the disease are in hospital quarantine, according to the data released by the government on April 2, 2020. The hospital quarantine was necessitated as they were either in direct or indirect contact with primary confirmed cases. They might not be showing any symptoms, but we could not rule out the possibility of them contracting the disease.
If people in home isolation are administered immune boosters, as suggested by the Central AYUSH ministry, to boost their diseases-preventing capacity, it could be beneficial in many ways.
The immune booster medicine suggested by Homoeopathy is being distributed in many States in our country.
These medicines could be administered to the people in isolation and this task could be entrusted with concerned AYUSH department or professional organisations in Homoeopathy or Ayurveda .
The AYUSH department could utilise technology, such as telemedicine, to deal with other health issues of the people in isolation.
It can also monitor the mental well-being of the isolated people, alleviate their fears and anxieties by appropriate mode of counselling and also monitor their diet regime.
If employed, the AYUSH systems, especially Homoeopathy and Ayurveda could be utilised to take care of the people in isolation and could prevent these people contracting COVID-19 with the help of immune booster medicines. This will also give a breather for modern medicine doctors dealing with the confirmed cases. This can also reduce the expense to treat COVID-19 patients.
(Dr K Saji is the president of the Kerala chapter of the Indian Homoeopathic Medical Association. He can be reached at:
9447468849)
