New Delhi, May 12: The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal advocated ‘One Health’ approach while addressing at the meeting of Ministers of Health of SCO member states today.
Speaking virtually from Guwahati, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The holistic ‘One Health’ approach towards health & well being of people along with the entire surrounding ecology has very valid resonance while exploring healthcare solutions to cure or heal from illnesses of the modern age. Our ancient traditional healthcare solutions were already developed with the One Health approach at the core of it.
The issues like global warming and Antimicrobial resistance have become major threats to human life. Effects of climate change on human health include heat-related mortality, food insecurity and reduced crop yields, increased suitability for infectious diseases transmission, rising sea levels, etc.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is taking strong steps to revitalise its rich heritage of traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Yoga in order to create healthcare solutions for people to enrich their lives.
Given their strong affinity towards nature, the Indian traditional medicine paves the way for pluralistic medicinal practise and contribute positively towars achieving SDG 2; i.e. Zero Hunger and SDG 3; i.e. health & wellness.”
Adding further, the Union Minister said, “After assuming the Presidency of SCO Council of Heads of State for the year 2023 on 17th September 2022 at Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji at the SCO Summit at Samarkand remarked that India will take the initiative for a new SCO Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine.
India has achieved significant progress in providing equitable, affordable, accessible and quality health care by virtue of improving infrastructure of traditional medicine in India under the Ministry of Ayush and public health financing.
The Minister said that the government is looking forward to accomplish the mission in near future through meaningful integration of Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine which is readily accessible, affordable, acceptable and safe health care system with an option that balances curative services with preventive and promotive care.
The meeting was addressed by all the health ministers of SCO member states, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation (WHO). The closing remark of the event was delivered by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar.
