Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announces major health sector fillip for Mizoram

Foundation laid for 6 AYUSH hospitals, 24 HWCs opened

AIZAWL: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (PSW) and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal announced a slew of measures to boost the AYUSH sector in Mizoram, stated a press release.

Sonowal, along with the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, laid the foundation stones for six AYUSH hospitals in Mizoram. In a further boost to the healthcare infrastructure in the hill State of the North-East, as many as 24 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres (HWC) were inaugurated across Mizoram at the event held here on Thursday.

Three 50-bedded hospitals will be developed at Aizawl, Champai and Hnahthial in the State, while three 10-bedded hospitals will be developed at Khawzawl, Saitul and Hortoki.

The Union Minister, while highlighting the importance of traditional Indian medicine, spoke about the role that the folk medicine of North-Eeast can play in palliative, preventive and curative patient care, along with the modern healthcare.

The Union Minister underlined the importance of unlocking value from the rich traditional medicinal practice of India, including the folk medicines of Mizoram and the North-East. Speaking about the role of AYUSH can play in patient care management, Sonowal said, "The rich heritage of traditional medicines as envisaged by AYUSH is scientifically proven to be effective in effective patient care. The holistic approach to patient care and healthy lifestyle includes both preventive as well as curative aspects. The AYUSH traditional medicinal practices have been traditionally taking care of both these aspects. In order to learn and leverage the folk medicine, the AYUSH Ministry is conducting a multi-centric research project to critically appraise and validate Local Health Traditions (LHT), Oral health Traditions (OHT) and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMP) among ethnic communities of the North-East."

Speaking about the role of Mizoram and the North-East in India's new age of economic growth, Sonowal said, "Through ACT East Policy, the PM has envisaged the North-East to be the most important region of India that will power the New Engine of growth. The Asta Lakshmi of North-East can be realized fully when Mizoram, along with all other Northeastern States, become Atma Nirbhar by enhancing our wisdom, work in cooperation and partnership, develop our abilities to compete at the global level. Mizoram will be the most attractive State of the country and not only people of rest of India but people from abroad will be keen to visit this beautiful State of North-East."

The meeting was also attended by Mizoram's Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana, MP in Lok Sabha C Laltlanthanga, the local MLA and other senior officials from Government of Mizoram as well as the Ministry of AYUSH.

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