Srinagar: World Unani Day is a global event taking place every year on February, 11th, which marks the birthday of great Unani scholar and social reformer “Hakim Ajmal Khan”. The main objective of the celebration of said event is to pay tribute to the legendary Hakim Ajmal Khan for his wonderful contribution in the sustained development of Unani system of medicine in the country and rest of the world and to create the awareness amongst masses and action about healthcare delivery through Unani system of medicine worldwide through its preventive, promotive, rehablitative and curative philosophy.
The main function to celebrate the World Unani Day in J&K was organized by Directorate of Ayush, J&K at SKICC, Srinagar wherein Shri Bhupinder Kumar, IAS Secretary to the Government Health & Medical Education was the Chief Guest of the event. Dr Masood Tanveer, Principal Govt Unani Medical College Ganderbal Kashmir, Director Health services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Rather participated as Guest of Honour and special guests respectively. The theme of this Years World Unani Day is “Unani Medicine for Public Health”.
The program started with isbandsooz ceremony to honour the Chief Guest. Speaking on the Occasion Shri Bhupinder Kumar, IAS Secretary to the Government Health & Medical Education Department said that Unani is perceived as one of the most ancient and well documented system of medicine equally relevant in modern times and its holistic approach whether for healthy individuals or for diseased ones remains unparalleled. Prevention of disease and promotion of health is the main aim of Unani. He appreciated the work done by Directorate of Ayush J&K for the last three years particularly the efforts in tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic. He hoped that the Unani with divine healing properties can become a world leader in providing alternate health care to the people. He said that Hakim Ajmal Khan was the pioneer of Unani Medicine in modern India, as well as a freedom fighter and an associate of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian independence movement. He was a populist and a Nationalist, and fought hard on behalf of India’s indigenous systems of traditional healing, both Ayurveda as well as his own tradition of Unani Tibb, against the British policy of suppressing indigenous healing systems in favor of Western medicine. He further said that Hakim Ajmal Khan recognized the vital importance of laboratory research and clinical trials in proving the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Ayurvedic and Unani medicinal herbs and Ajmaline (also known by trade names Gilurytmal, Ritmos, and Aritmina) an alkaloid named after Hakim Ajmal Khan was isolated by Hakim Ajmal Khan at that time. He stressed on management of diseases and restoration of healthy lifestyle which provides preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare with holistic approach based on Unani System of Medicine. He further informed that thrust area of Unani System of Medicine is the management of chronic and lifestyle diseases. It provides radical and safe cure for various chronic disorders, such as psychoneurotic disorders, hepato-biliary disorders, gastro intestinal disorders, metabolic disorders.The Unani System of Medicine has more realistic view of disease because it considers several factors that contribute to the origin of most diseases and puts great emphasis on lifestyle management for promotion of health, prevention and treatment of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Director AYUSH, J&K Dr Mohan Singh while speaking on the Occasion highlighted the objectives of World Unani Day. He informed that this day is celebrated with an attempt to further promote Unani into mainstream and focus on strengths of Unani and its unique treatment principles. He stressed on reducing the burden of disease and related morbidity and mortality by utilizing the potential of Unani and exploring the potential of Unani to contribute towards National health policy & National Health programmes. He said that Hakim Ajmal Khan was the pioneer of Unani Medicine in modern India, as well as a freedom fighter and an associate of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian independence movement and was a healer, Spiritual leader, Sufi, Mystic, Herbalist and poet. He believed that Unani and Ayurveda should work together like a pair of eyes, and to fulfil this dream he founded the Ayurveda and Unani Tibbiya College in Karol Bagh, Delhi. His immense contributions as a renowned physician earned him the title of “Massiha-e-Hind”, or “The Healer of India”, or “Massih-ul-Mulk”, or Healer of the Nation. He was also called “A King Without a Crown”. He also highlighted the achievements of Ayush Directorate for the last six months. He informed that 60 AYUSH Health & WCs have been established by upgrading the existing Ayush Dispensaries for last one year wherein comprehensive AYUSH health care is being provided to the patients. He said that more than 50 Kanals of land has been identified and formally transferred to the Health & Medical Education Department (Directorate of Ayush) for development of Ayush infrastructure He further added that four 50 bedded AYUSH Integrated Hospitals are being established at Kathua, Kishtwar, Kulgam and Kupwara and three more to be established at Samba, Anantnag and Bandipora which are in pipeline. AYUSH Staff (Medical/Para Medical) associated with Directorate of Ayush were actively working as frontline warriors to tackle the COVID-Pandemic He stressed on the need to develop holistic healthcare system which will achieve comprehensive health care delivery system at grass root levels. He further added that the Unani System of Medicine integrates both external environment like seasons, air purity, food and drinks, as well as internal environment i.e. movement and rest, sleep and wakefulness, evacuation and retention etc. He said that due to efforts of Shri Bhupinder Kumar, IAS Secretary to the Government Health & Medical Education department the Ayush Sector is achieving new heights with regard to patient care.
Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Parray, District Nodal officer Ayush, Pulwama, gave key note address on the theme “Unani Medicine in Public Health”. He said that the Unani System of Medicine has more realistic view of disease because it considers several factors that contribute to the origin of most diseases and puts great emphasis on lifestyle management for promotion of health, prevention and treatment of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). He further informed that Unani system considers diet, lifestyle, emotions, interaction with the environment, and even spiritual factors. Therefore, it is of immense relevance to present times as lifestyle diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, Depression are posing the greatest burden on healthcare.
Deputy Director, Ayush Kashmir, Accounts Officer Directorate of Ayush, J&K, District Ayush officers, Kashmir Division, Assistant Director Unani, , Retired Senior Unani Doctors/renowned Unani Practitioners and Ayush Medical & Para-Medical staff participated in the event.
