Coronavirus patients get best care in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam/ Tirupati: Even as coronavirus positive patients elsewhere in the country reportedly face rough conditions in the quarantine centres, those in Andhra Pradesh are a blessed lot, thanks to the care that the authorities take in "treating" them well.

The Hans India found out that patients in the Covid hospitals are given the most nutritious diet as a special menu is prepared for them and accordingly food is served at decent intervals. In addition, there is a daily dose of dry fruits and fruits too to pep up their mood. Yoga and meditation are also part of the recovery regimen and patients seem to be happy with it.

Reports from Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati show that the recovery rate is very high because of the holistic methods adopted in the treatment.

The day begins in these hospitals with Pranayama, yoga asanas followed by physical exercises. Following the advice of the dieticians, nutritious food is served every day to them. Breathing exercises are also part of the routine; Tirupati is an exception.

"Yoga has a positive impact. As a part of counselling, we do explain the benefits of pranayama and asanas to the patients.

But as of now, yoga is yet to be made compulsory for patients," says K Vijaya Lakshmi in-charge District Medical and Health Officer, in Visakhapatnam. Currently, there are 20 hospitals accommodating Covid-19 patients in Visakhapatnam. "Nutritious food, vitamin supplements, green tea and snacks are being served along and we insist on yoga and pranayama which will be an integral part. We have appealed to the officials concerned to make yoga a part of the routine," says Hema Prakash Kumari, Head of the Department of Microbiology, infection control officer and nodal officer of the district Covid hospital -- GITAM Institute of Medical and Science Research (GIMSR). Vijayawada Covid centres too vouch for it with similar inputs. A Government employee who got admitted to the Centre three days ago says: "I never imagined things would be so good. Now I am sure I would be cured 100 per cent. It is not just the food alone, but the yoga and breathing exercises too that inculcate the confidence in us," he added.

Tirupati patients start their day with a good breakfast mostly having idly and end with chapatis or puris for dinner. The government prescribed menu chart for Covid patients is strictly followed at isolation wards which consists of a rich protein diet to help the patients get immunity and energy to recover fast.

Immunity boosters are part of the treatment. "They are being given breakfast that consists of idly or kichidi and other varieties, ragi malt twice a day and dry fruits as evening snacks. Rice, curry, dal etc., in the lunch whereas in the dinner they will have chapatis and dal or curry," said the Covid-19 nodal officer Dr S Subba Rao.

In addition to this, at Padamavati Covid care centre which houses asymptomatic patients, ginger tea along with a Sidda medicine called "Kabasura kudineer" (a kashayam made of 15 herbal ingredients) is also being given daily along with fruits, said the Centre's special officer S Lakshmi. Non-vegetarian food is not supplied except eggs. However, in Ruia hospital, they are allowing non-vegetarian food from outside if anyone brings it for their near and dear in isolation.