By OUR STAFF REPORTER
New Delhi, 12 Feb: A two-day National Conference on Unani Medicine was organised by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) at Vigyan Bhawan, here. The conference highlighted the important role played by Unani Medicine in public health, especially in combating NCDs, lifestyle disorders and various chronic diseases by providing cost effective treatment and quality products for patient healthcare.
Governor of Manipur Dr Najma Heptulla inaugurated the conference. Dr Heptulla urged the Unani fraternity to progress and evolve with the changing times. She reminded that Manipur had a treasure of over 500 medicinal plants and invited medical scientists to visit the state for research.
Addressing the conference themed on ‘Unani Medicine for Public Health’, Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik enlightened the audience on concrete steps taken by the Ministry of AYUSH to promote Unani Medicine.
Dr S Farooq, who was the Guest of Honour, paid tribute to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Unani Day on 11 February, every year. He recalled Khan as a humane and 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 that the AYUSH systems were the golden key to health and well-being and India was the strongest hub of Traditional Medicine, which was one of the reasons medical tourism was flourishing in the country.
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 had been in aptly maintaining public health.
On the occasion, AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were conferred on various Unani scientists and experts in recognition of their contributions for research, teaching and practice of Unani Medicine. The Best Research Paper Awards were presented to Dr Arshiya Sultana, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, for Clinical Research, and Dr Noman Anwar, Research Officer (Unani), Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai, for Drug Research in Unani Medicine. The awards comprised a citation, a shawl and a cash award of Rs 50,000, each. The Young Scientist Awards were conferred on Dr Jamal Akhtar, Research Officer (Unani) Scientist – III, CCRUM for Clinical Research, and Dr Nasreen Jahan, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, for Drug Research in Unani Medicine. The awards comprised a citation, a shawl and a cash award of Rs 100,000, each. The Best Teacher Awards were presented to Prof Tanzeel Ahmad, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for Clinical Research, Prof Mohd Aslam, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, for Drug Research, and Prof Khalid Zaman Khan, Aligarh Muslim University for Literary Research in Unani Medicine. The awards comprised a citation, a shawl and a cash award of Rs 200,000 each. The Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Prof Naeem Ahmad Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, and Prof MA Jafri, Jamia Hamdard for Best Academician and Best Researcher in Unani Medicine, respectively. The awards comprised a citation, a shawl and a cash award of Rs 200,000 each.
The dignitaries released the Conference Souvenir and four other publications brought out by the CCRUM. The conference also had a panel discussion on Challenges in Market Development for Unani Medicine – An Interface between Academia, Industry and Researchers. About 1300 delegates, resource persons, academicians, researchers and industry representatives were present.
