OUR CORRESPONDENT
TINSUKIA: The North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM), Pasighat, an autonomous institute under Ministry of AYUSH, organized a national webinar on the topic 'Traditional Community Healthcare Providers-An Asset to the Nation' on November 25 as part of its aim and objectives and also for the uplift of traditional healers of the nation at a time when Prime Minister NarendraModi asserted that Indian traditional medicinal therapy proved to be very effective in boosting immunity at the backdrop of corona crisis at Gandhinagar on November 13.
Prof. Debjani Roy, Consultant, Good Clinical Practice, Professional Certification Scheme CDSA, DBT, GoI, who hails from the Northeast, as resource person while elaborating on the topic, explained the National Health Policy 2017 in brief, about the ecosystem of TCHP in India, background of the scheme, pilot project, International Model for Personnel as per ISO 17024, Voluntary Certification Scheme of TCHP, benefits of certification and the way forward for traditional healers.
Dr. T. Thirunarayanan, secretary, Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research, while talking on the topic 'Preserving oral traditions' explained that local health traditions refer to the undocumented knowledge possessed by individuals and communities, including birth attendants (dais), bone setters, herbal healers, poison specialists as well as the knowledge on locally available medicinal plants possessed by household. The recent National Health Policy reinforces the need for documentation, validation and promotion of such community-based local health tradition. He explained the importance and need to preserve the knowledge and why there was need to save this tradition.
Prof. DarlandoKhathing, Vice-Chancellor, North East Christian University (NECU), while speaking on the topic 'TCHP Certification – Importance and Support', highlighted what traditional medicines means, how much percentage of people in the world gets benefits from it in other parts of the world, prevalence of traditional medicine in India, about the Indian system of medicine, rich tradition and strong biodiversity of Northeast India, journey of NECU from a PrCB to be accredited under ISO17024 standard by NABCB and the future road ahead.
Dr. Imlikumba, coordinator, spoke on traditional medicine and important subdivisions of it, how traditional healers were working in villages and contributing to the healthcare facilities and also the need to get them certified. More than 100 participants from all parts of the country, mostly traditional healers participated in the webinar. Dr. Amal Bari Botanist also spoke in the webinar on the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (I.P.R). Earlier, Dr. KenjumBagra, zoologist, while delivering welcome note, spoke on the importance of preserving the knowledge of traditional healing and the need to preserve the knowledge and the role of NEIFM in this process.