The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to establish Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India which would provide a great opportunity for researchers and students to lead the world in traditional medicine, said Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, while inaugurating Unani Day Celebration and International Conference on Unani Medicine.
He said Unani Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan which is very significant because it is due to the contributions made by him and many other scholars that we inherited this comprehensive medical system.
In his address in the event held in Srinagar, Minister Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai said diet is very important as it is the basic source of energy. He said Unani Medicine provides detail guidelines for healthy food habits to maintain health and prevent diseases.
He lauded the role of Ayush system in immunity enhancement through drugs and medicinal foods and fighting against Covid-19.
He also appreciated the contributions of CCRUM in research and development in Unani Medicine.
Speaking on the occasion, Pramod Kumar Pathak said that proper and nutritious diet is key to good health and well-being and Unani Medicine has a holistic approach to adjust the imbalances which contribute to disease.
He said the Ministry of Ayush has established NIUM with 200 bedded hospital in Ghaziabad.
Vaidya Jayant Deopujari said knowledge of Arabic and Urdu languages is very important for education and training in Unani Medicine as the knowledge of Sanskrit is important for Ayurveda and therefore suitable changes have been made in the Minimum Standards for Indian System of Medicine and colleges have been instructed to appoint full-time teachers for Arabic and Urdu languages.
Prof Talat Ahmad appreciated the role of CCRUM in research and development in Unani Medicine and urged to expand collaborations with other institutions for interdisciplinary research in Unani Medicine.
Prof Akbar Masood, Vice Chancellor, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University lauded the contribution of CCRUM and RRIUM, Srinagar in research, health care delivery and higher education in Unani Medicine.
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof Asim Ali Khan said that Indigenous medicine systems have received unprecedented support and patronage by the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr MA Qasmi.
The inaugural session witnessed release of conference souvenir and eight books published by the CCRUM, release of two Unani e-books developed by National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage functioning under CCRAS at Hyderabad, distribution of YCB certificates to felicitate yoga instructors, exchange of Yoga MoU and live yoga performance, release of CCRUM Apps and presentation of NABH Accreditation Certificate to RRIUM, Srinagar.
The titles of the CCRUM books released are ‘Orientation Guidelines for Community Health Officers (Under Unani Stream)’, ‘Antiarthritic Plants in Unani Medicine’, ‘Hepatoprotective Plants in Unani Medicine’, ‘Glimpses of Activities and Achievements of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine’, ‘Advanced Analytical Methods for Quality Control of Unani Drugs – Araqiyat (Distillates)’, ‘Riyad al-Adwiya (Urdu translation)’ ‘Adwiya Kabidiyya: Qadeem-o-Jadeed Tahqiqat ki Raushni mein’, ‘National Formulary of Unani Medicine, Vol. IV, 2nd Edition’.
