Srinagar / New Delhi,: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India inaugurated Unani Day Celebration and International Conference on Unani Medicine at SKICC, Srinagar today. Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India was Distinguished Guest of Honour in the conference themed on “Diet and Nutrition in Unani Medicine for Good Health and Well-being”.
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.
Inaugurating the conference, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Government of India under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narandra Modi Ji has accorded great importance to the multifaceted development of Indian systems of medicine including Unani Medicine. He further informed that because of the able leadership of Shri Narendra Modi Ji, 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. He further said that 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. Talking about Jammu & Kashmir region, he said that we are all proud of this beautiful region which has been successful in positioning itself as an attraction for tourists worldwide. He further said that J&K is rich in plant resources and stressed the need to explore them and conduct researches for their medicinal use so that the mankind is benefited.
In his address, Hon’ble Minister 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.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri 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 informed that the Ministry of Ayush has established NIUM with 200 bedded hospital in Ghaziabad as a part of the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narandra Modi for provision and promotion of quality education, research and healthcare services through Unani Medicine and other Ayush systems.
Shri Vivek Bhardwaj said that Unani Medicine is very popular in J&K and for its further promotion and development the Union Government is making concerted efforts including introduction of MD in Unani Medicine at RRIUM, Srinagar and BUMS at the first government Unani medical college of J&K.
Vaidya Jayant Deopujari said that 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 Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He mentioned that in the last September Hon’ble Ayush Minister inaugurated BUMS course at the first government medical college of Unani Medicine in J&K established with substantial financial support from the Ministry of Ayush. He further said that the Ministry of Ayush has recently provided fund for developing an Ayush Centre of Excellence for Regimenal Therapy at Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar. Talking about the activities and achievements of CCRUM, he said that it 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 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’.
Launching of the apps on ‘Single Unani Drugs’, ‘Unani Treatment Guidelines for Common Diseases’ and ‘Know Your Temperament’ by Hon’ble Minister Shri Shri Sarbananda Sonowal was highly appreciated by Unani and other stakeholders as it was first of its kind initiative of CCRUM, Ministry of Ayush in the field of Unani Medicine.
