By MM Staff
New Delhi: The two-day National Conference on Unani Medicine successfully concluded on Tuesday with announcing a future roadmap to tap the hidden potential of the Unani Medicine and making it more popular in the country and abroad. It also underlined and emphasized that integration and synergy of all medical systems is the need of the hour for addressing the new health challenges and issues and making a healthy world. It also emphasized the need for modernization of Unani Medicine to keep pace with other medicines.
The conference was organized by the largest government autonomous body Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) as a part of 3rd Unani Day Celebration here in which delegates from Bangladesh, Tajikistan and other countries also participated. During the two day deliberations, academics, researchers and experts have highlighted the contributions and potentials of Unani Medicine in public health. They were of the view that Unani Medicine has effective treatment for many diseases that are not effectively treated in other medical systems.
Addressing the valedictory session, Pramod Kumar Pathak, Additional Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, appreciated the CCRUM for organizing such a successful conference and congratulated the recipients of AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine.
In his address, Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Srinagar emphasized the need for modernization of Unani Medicine and other traditional systems of medicine keeping their principles and basics intact.
While Prof. Akhtarul Wasey President, Maulana Azad University, Jhodpur said that with the largest infrastructure for teaching, research and practice, India is undoubtedly the world leader in Unani medicine. He urged the Ministry of AYUSH and the Government of India to upgrade Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College to a full-fledged university.
Padma Shri Prof. Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman urged to maintain the principles and identities of different systems of medicine and preserve our medical legacy. Paying tribute to Hakim Ajmal Khan, he said that he was an unmatched and genius personality and a symbol of unity in diversity.
Padma Dr. M.A. Waheed laid emphasis on validation of traditional systems of medicine on scientific parameters for globalization of Unani Medicine.
Earlier in his concluding remarks, Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Director General, CCRUM summed up the two-day proceedings which held eight scientific sessions. Deliberations on Integration of Unani Medicine in Healthcare Delivery System, Management of Chronic Diseases in Unani Medicine, Public Health Programs, Unani Medicine for Geriatric Care, Unani Medicine for Mother and Child Healthcare, Quality Control in Traditional Medicine, Emerging Research Trends in Unani Medicine, and Way Forward for Globalization of Unani Medicine etc were come for discussion, he added.
The conference also had a panel discussion on Challenges in Market Development for Unani Medicine – An Interface Between Academia, Industry and Researchers and three keynote addresses on Unani Medicine for Public Health. In the presence of experts, luminaries, scholars of Unani Medicine, the conference proved an effective platform for healthy discussion and brain storming of ideas and creation of better avenues in further utilizing the strength of Unani Medicine in public health issues. About 40 papers were presented during these sessions which had participation of 1300 delegates, resource persons, academicians, researchers, students and industry representatives participated in the conference.
On this occasion, AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were conferred on Dr. Arshiya Sultana, National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bangalore, Dr. Noman Anwar, CCRUM, Dr. Jamal Akhtar, CCRUM, Dr. Nasreen Jahan, NIUM, Bangalore, Prof. Tanzeel Ahmad, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, Prof. Mohd Aslam, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Prof. Khalid Zaman Khan, AMU, Aligarh, Prof. Naeem Ahmad Khan, AMU, Aligarh and Prof. M A Jafri, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. The awards comprised a citation, a shawl and a cash award ranging from Rs 50,000 to 200,000 each.