The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Nov 27:: The scope of medicare through AYUSH needs to be expanded as different modern healthcare systems are adapting to the nature cure treatment of different of ailments, said Governor Gurbachan Jagat while inaugurating the AROGYA-2009, Imphal, Comprehensive Health Fair of AYUSH jointly organized by Department of Health Services, Government of Manipur, Department of AYUSH, Government of India and ASSOCHAM at Iboyaima Shumang Lila Shanglen, Palace Compound.

The Governor while inaugurating the fair said that health or arogya is an important basis for development of all aspects of the human life.

Men in the medial profession, therefore, have been working for diagnosing and developing health care system since time immemorial.

While the science of medicine has enormously advanced, today, there is still a great deal to be done in medicare and healthcare systems for mankind.

Many diseases have been prevented, controlled or cured, yet many more emerged. In view of this, the scope of medicare needs to be expanded.

He further added that he is happy to note the objective of AROGYA-2009- a 4-day comprehensive Health Fair on Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy being organized by the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Government of Manipur in collaboration with ASSOCHAM is to display the strength of AYUSH systems and the inevitable linkage with the Ayush industry.

The comprehensive Health Fair, which is the first of its kind in Manipur, aims, among others, at exhibiting the research and development efforts in the AYUSH sector, projecting future trends and requirements in AYUSH health care sector and hope that the health fair will attract stakeholders in AYUSH sector like manufacturers, retailers, consumer health care product manufacturers, health food producers and processors, medical practitioners and publishers.

He also mentioned that realizing the importance of integrating traditional and herbal medicines with public and private health care, people have started depending on natural medicinal plants. Natural supplements are also central in helping he body counter harmful effects of modern life style by enabling people to rediscover the enormous healing potential of the nature.

It may be noted that many antibiotics, tranquilizers, analgesics, sedatives, anesthetics pain relievers and laxatives are derived from plants. A quarter of all prescriptions sold every year in the US have plant chemicals as active ingredients. An estimated six billion dollars per year are spent on pharmaceutical medicines derived from tropical plants. Out of the 25 bestselling pharmaceutical drugs, 12 are derived from natural products, for example, the common pain killer aspirin is derived from Willow bark, the malaria-drug quinine is derived from Chinchona officinalis, so on and so forth. Hence, the common people need to be aware of the natural origins of pharmaceutical drugs.

Manipur, as we all are aware, has a strong traditional medicine system, both in the hills and plains. Many of the now recognized medicinal plants were used for treatment of various diseases, such as Heirangoi (Amoora ruhetuca), Okhidak (Acorus calamus), Nongmankha (Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis) Maiyokpha etc. Research needs to be carried out on the traditional medicinal plants to understand their efficacy and exploitation, he added.

Further mentioned that it is a matter of satisfaction that an AYUSH cell is working under the State Health Services and setting up of a separate Department of AYUSH in the state is under process. Six more 10-bedded AYUSH Wings are coming up in different districts. Another 50-bedded multi-speciality AYUSH hospital has been proposed. The AYUSH CSS supports the infrastructure upgradation and drugs needed for all AYUSH centres and he is confident that such activities and programmes of the AYUSH in Manipur will certainly enhance awareness on the importance of YOGA and traditional systems of medicine and the value of herbal medicines among the people.

He also complemented the Department of AYUSh, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and its co-organizers for holding the AROGYA=2009, at Imphal and appealed to the people of Manipur to benefit themselves from this health fair and its various programmes and exhibits which include various medicinal plants and hope that AROGYA-2009 will help in advancing the AYUSH system in Manipur.

The function was also attended by chief secretary of Manipur, D.S. Poonia as president, joint secretary Dept. of Ayush, Govt. of India, SK Panda and commissioner health and family welfare, Govt. of Manipur, V.Vumlunmang as guest of honours.

Chief secretary Poonia, in his presidential speech, said that as many as 1200 varieties of medicinal plants are found in Manipur and people should utilize these valuable plants in a productive manner and added that AYUSH is a good natural way of health treatment and the people will get utmost benefits from this fair.

Commissioner Vumlunmang also appreciated the AYUSH department for organizing such a purposeful fair and announced that a 50 bedded AYUSH hospital will be established very soon in the state.

In all 22 stalls and 3 OPD of ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, unani, siddha and homeopathy which come under AYUSH are opened at the fair to provide good medicare to the people and the organizers appealed the people to take the rare opportunity of effective health care at the fair which will be held till November 30.

 

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