Jayalalithaa has ‘fully recovered’, aware of things around her: Apollo Hospital

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa will soon be moved out of the critical care care unit (CCU) to a private room, said a senior AIADMK leader on Friday.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has “fully recovered” and is now “conscious and aware of things around her”, Dr Pratap Reddy, founder of Apollo Hospitals, told reporters in Chennai on Friday.

Members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) party carry placards with the image of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa.(AFP File Photo)

The CM’s recovery was made possible thanks to the efforts of the doctors and the prayers of her supporters, Dr Reddy said, in what was his first media interaction on the matter.

“The lung infection is under control. She has passed the critical stage. The respiratory system is being weaned away. It is being used on and off,” senior AIADMK leader and spokesperson C Ponnaiyan earlier told IANS, adding that she will soon be moved out of the critical care unit and into a private room.

He said for the past one week Jayalalithaa was consuming semi-solid food and able to talk with people.

“We are so happy. Everyone has prayed for Amma because they love her so much,” AIADMK leader CR Saraswathi said, reacting to the news.

Read | Jayalalithaa doing well, will resume her ‘duty to the people’ soon: AIADMK

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai with fever and dehydration on September 22, but doctors later said she needed a longer stay as she had an infection and was put on respiratory support.

According to Apollo Hospital, a team of specialists including cardiologists, respiratory physicians, consultants for infectious diseases, diabetologist and endocrinologist was treating Jayalalithaa.

In its last medical bulletin, issued on October 21, Apollo Hospital said Jayalalithaa “is interacting (with people) and progressing gradually”.

According to Ponnaiyan, it is up to the doctors now to decide when she will be discharged.

“Her health condition has improved now. The remaining health issues can be addressed while she is in a room or even at her residence,” Ponnaiyan added.

Read | Hand swollen, ailing Jayalalithaa puts thumb impression on election affidavit

He said Jayalalithaa was suffering from acute lung infection, which had aggravated the problem.

She was suffering from high fever for nearly 18 days at the hospital due to the infection.”The fever was brought down by appropriate medication,” Ponnaiyan said.

According to Ponnaiyan, the team of doctors, including British doctor Richard Beale, consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital, London, were taking good care and rendering expert treatment to Jayalalithaa.

With inputs from agencies