Chennai: With a persevering rise in dengue cases in the city, Greater Chennai corporation incorporated the distribution of Siddha medicine Nilavembu Kudineer as part of its dengue control programme. But as the number of cases soared high, increased demand has led to a shortage of the medicine. As 5,474 cases of dengue were reported last month, state health department conducted special mass cleaning programmes, awareness programmes to campaign for dengue control. Nilavembu Kudineer is primarily used for strengthening the immunity and thus plays a vital role against spread of dengue. Free distribution of medicine at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), government hospitals and Siddha hospitals and door to door distribution for all cases of suspected fever was started by the state health department. Doctors at the PHCs said that as they have limited availability, they could not provide the medicine when asked by the people voluntarily, even if it was needed for fever.
The medicine was being used to fight against dengue since last five years but its availability has become difficult with increased number of dengue cases. Around four PHCs in Velachery are undergoing acute shortage of the medicine since last week. Currently, three PHCs are out of stock, while one of it has limited availability. While Alandur PHC ran out of stock on Wednesday, PHC in West Mambalam had limited stock availability.
“We informed the senior health officials and supply of the medicine will be made within a period of time. If any dengue case is reported, Nilavembu Kudineer is provided to the patient and relatives after getting it from a PHC in Taramani,” said a health worker at a PHC in Velachery.
Government hospitals and Siddha hospitals were instructed by the state government to increase the supply of Nilavembu Kudineer, Nilavembu kayasam and papaya leaves juice and to maintain its availability. “We have been asked to increase the supply of Nilavembu Kudineer in all Siddha hospitals and other government hospitals,” said a Siddha doc.
