Manipur governor Najma Heptulla underlines the benefits of Unani Medicine

Unani Medicine is capable of offering "right solution" to various health challenges that the nation is facing currently, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla said on Monday. Inaugurating the two-day National Conference on Unani Medicine organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) as a part of 3rd Unani Day celebration here, Heptulla urged the Unani fraternity to progress and evolve with the changing times, adapt to new techniques of health research and contribute new approaches to health management.

"Unani Medicine can offer the right solution for many health challenges we are facing due to lack of treatment of many diseases and paucity of resources," Heptulla said. She informed that Manipur has the treasure of over 500 medicinal plants and invited the medical scientists to visit the state for research.

Addressing the conference themed on ‘Unani Medicine for Public Health’, Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik enlightened the audience on concrete steps taken by his ministry to promote Unani Medicine in national public healthcare system through regulation of research and integration of quality products, practices, and practitioners into the health system. "Our efforts are focused to tap the real potential of AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people," he said.

Paying rich tributes to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Unani Day on February 11 every year, he attributed him as humane, versatile genius, intensely committed, articulate and a remarkable combination of honesty, high idealism and professional skill. Highlighting the strengths of Unani Medicine and other AYUSH systems in his address, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the AYUSH systems are golden key to health and wellbeing and India is the strongest hub of traditional medicine which is one of the reasons medical tourism is flourishing in the country.

He stressed on the integration of Unani Medicine in mainstream healthcare in line with the government policies and initiatives for mainstreaming of AYUSH in national healthcare. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, elaborated on the present day threats to public health and how capable Unani Medicine has been in aptly maintaining public health.

He also expressed his hope that Unani Medicine and other AYUSH systems will come forth to combat the current public health issues. On the occasion, AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were conferred on various Unani scientists and experts in recognition of their contributions in research, teaching and practice of Unani Medicine.

The conference would conclude on Tuesday and would highlight the important role played by Unani Medicine in public health especially in combating non-communicable diseases, lifestyle disorders and various chronic diseases by providing cost-effective treatment and quality products for patient healthcare.