The Siddha wing of the Health Department has provided Nilavembu kashayam for dengue prevention to over 1.85 lakh adults and children in the district so far during this month, for dengue prevention.
The Health Department has been providing the herbal medicine through 50 centres comprising government hospitals and primary health centres throughout the district since the start of the rainy season, official sources said.
People in the city limits are being covered separately by the Corporation administration. The stock of Nilavembu powder is being replenished at regular intervals by Tampcol, a State Government undertaking.
Citizens have been visiting the hospital specifically to consume the concoction and also take it home in the bottles they bring. Since the 'ready to drink' kasayam must be consumed within two to three hours, the concoction is prepared at regular intervals, official sources said.
The public are informed at the hospitals that the concoction must be consumed twice a day for three days. A single dose contains 10 grams of the powder in 30 ml water. The dosage is 5 gm in the same quantity of water for children. The concoction is being prepared using mineral water, hospital sources said.
The public and the visitors start consuming the concoction at the hospital from morning till evening.
The in-patients are given the herbal medicine during the evening hours.
Students in government schools have been covered by the Primary Health Centres. Unlike in the past, private schools have started approaching the Health department for administering the concoction to their students, sources said.
Erode has not witnessed sustained impact of rainfall, and hence, there was no cause for any apprehension of dengue outbreak.
So far, no case has been reported, as per official records.
As part of the State-wide exercise, a special awareness campaign was initiated on Wednesday morning by Revenue Divisional Officer Narmada Devi, in the presence of the Joint Director of Health Mani, District Siddha Medical Officer Ramakrishnan and Assistant Medical Officer Rafiq Ahmed.
Tiruchengode
Nilavembu kashayam was distributed to more than 600 men, women and children on the inaugural day of the five day special camp brought up by the Siddha wing of the Government Hospital here on Wednesday.
The State Health Department had ordered holding special camps for five days in all the Sidha wings functioning in the government hospitals and primary health centres in the State.
The camp at Tiruchengode was inaugurated by Pon Saraswathi, Chairperson of Tiruchengode Municipality, in the presence of Palanisamy, Medical Officer in-charge of the Government Hospital and Chidambara Lakshmi, Siddha doctor.
The camp will continue for four more days.

Source : The Hindu