Sonowal inaugurates ‘AYUSH Utsav’ in Kashmir

Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the ‘AYUSH Utsav’ at the Government Unani Medical College and Hospital (GUMC) in Ganderbal, Kashmir recently. With the focus of the government to enable traditional medicinal practices to supplement modern patient care, the ‘AYUSH Utsav’ was launched with the inauguration of a seminar titled ‘Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare: AYUSH, a Promising Recourse.’

The discussion also witnessed display of medicinal herbs, posters by the students as well as a video documentary by the Directorate of AYUSH at the premises. A video documentary was also displayed to showcase the strengths and progress AYUSH system of medicine has achieved in Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “The importance of our rich traditional medicinal practices must be optimally used for the benefit and enrichment of human lives. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, there has been a concerted effort to promote the AYUSH medicinal practices and supplement it with the modern medicinal treatments for a holistic recovery and wellness of the people. Taking the vision of Modi ji forward, it is a matter of great pride that the Global Centre of Traditional Medicine is coming up in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This is a brilliant news for further bolstering of the traditional medicinal practices in India as well as globally.”

Apart from it, Dr Mohan Singh, Director, AYUSH, J&K, also elaborated the achievements of the department to make AYUSH practices a household name across the Union Territory (UT). AYUSH Health and Wellness centres have been established and yoga instructors have been engaged in all AYUSH Health and Wellness centres for promotion of health and prevention of diseases through yoga asans.

It is to be noted that GUMC, Ganderbal, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 32.50 crore by J&K Housing Board. Pertinently, the GUMC and Hospital Ganderbal Kashmir was granted permission by the central government to start the first batch of Bachelors in Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) course from the academic session of 2020-21 with an intake capacity of 60 seats.