Sericulture official provides steam inhalation machine for COVID Care Centre in Tirupattur

The contraption consists of a stand-mounted steel tube with nozzles at the sides and at the ends through which 7 persons can inhale steam simultaneously.

It was invented by Vijayakumar the sericulture department AD posted in the Pudurnadu hill village in the Jawadhu hills.

“When connected to the top end of a pressure cooker heated on an induction stove, it ensures that seven patients can inhale steam simultaneously thereby saving time,” Vijayakumar told this reporter.

Asked how he thought up the idea, Vijayakumar said: “My wife is a Siddha doctor and I am also interested in natural medicine. This is a small contribution from my side to make a life for inpatients - especially senior citizens – easy.” He further added that he had devised the machine at a total cost of Rs 12,000.

Collector Sivan Arul who formally inaugurated the machine said: “it will be useful as now patients do not have to take turns to inhale steam at the CCC.”

Andiappanur PHC medical officer Dr Vikram Kumar on deputation as coordinator to the CCC said “the machine has been put to use immediately as steam inhalation is part of the medical regimen for the 25 inpatients in the CCC.

“Patients are happy as now they do not have to wait for long. The earlier practice was to heat water in the pressure cooker and then fix an inverted funnel over it with a tube for use by patients. That hassle is now avoided,” Dr Vikram Kumar said.