Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates the International Conference on Unani Medicine in Srinagar
New Delhi, March 10: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the International Conference on Unani Medicine in Srinagar. On this occasion, the Minister announced that the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine will be developed as a Centre of Excellence.
On the occasion of Unani day, an international conference on Unani Medicine on “Diet and Nutrition in Unani Medicine for Good health & well-being” was inaugurated by the Union Minister at SKICC in Srinagar today. The Minister of State for Women & Child Development and AYUSH, Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai also attended the conference as Distinguished Guest of Honour.
Speaking at the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The importance of balance and nutritious diet is key to a healthy life and prevention as well as treatment of disease. Dietotherapy is an important mode of treatment. Unani physicians recommend treatment by suitable modifications in diet before treatment with drugs.
We are working in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narandra Modi Ji to accord highest importance to the multifaceted development of Indian systems of medicine including Unani medicine. In this regard, we want to upgrade the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine into an AYUSH Center of Excellence in Ilaj bi’l-Tadbir (Regimental Therapy). Our aim to validate traditional medicine with modern system of ratification has borne fruit. The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, has published “WHO Benchmarks for the Training of Unani Medicine”. This document will address the aspects like training requirements for good-quality Unani medicine services.”
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. With the launch of mobile apps on Single Unani Drugs, Unani treatment guidelines and know your temperament application, the Union Minister was appreciated all stakeholders as it was first of its kind initiative of CCRUM, Ministry of Ayush in the field of Unani Medicine.
In his address, the Minister of State, Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai said that diet is very important as it is the basic source of energy. He further said that 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.
Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, National Commission for India System of Medicine, highlighted the role of Government of India for improving standards and quality of education and research in India systems of medicine. 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.
Prof. Asim Ali Khan said that Indigenous medicine systems have received unprecedented support and patronage by the Union Government led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. In September, the Ayush Minister inaugurated BUMS course at the first government medical college of Unani Medicine in J&K with substantial financial support from the Ministry of Ayush. He further said that CCRUM has witnessed multifaceted growth and progress in the past few years. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. M. A. Qasmi.
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’.
Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Shri Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K, Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, National Commission for India System of Medicine, Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Akbar Masood, Vice Chancellor, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Director General, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Dr. M. A. Qasmi, Adviser (Unani), Ministry of Ayush also graced the conference organized by the CCRUM, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India as part of Unani Day 2022 celebrations on March 10-11, 2022 in hybrid mode.