Ayurveda Eye Treatment Units Set Up in all Districts: Health Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

With the launching of six ‘Drishti’ units and renovating the existing eye treatment units at a cost of Rs five crore, Ayurveda eye treatment facility has been established in all districts across the State, said Health, Women, and Child Development Minister Veena George here today.

The Minister was delivering the inaugural address at the State-level programme of the 10th National Ayurveda Day, besides unveiling 12 projects worth Rs 14.39 crore that aimed to promote Ayurveda and other indigenous systems of medicine falling within the ambit of AYUSH.

“The International Ayurveda Research Centre at Kannur is the greatest tribute of this age to Ayurveda. The building complex comprising a 100-bed hospital and manuscript centre at the facility will be completed by December,” she said, adding that the National Training Institute for Ayurveda is preparing for its inauguration soon.

Noting that the government is keen on fostering Ayurveda and developing institutions, Smt Veena George said that the government has given a fillip to the standard of Ayurveda hospitals, besides providing speciality services.

Veena George said setting up Ayush dispensaries in all local self-government institutions has become a reality.

Elaborating on the achievements in the Ayurveda domain, the Minister said that standardisation of hospitals, courses, and wellness institutions is under consideration by the government.

Veena George also released the ‘AYUSH Yoga Club app’, a yoga centre locator, at the event presided over by VK Prashant, MLA.

An MoU for State-level training for the Suthikamitram project, which aims to provide scientific training to women in Ayurveda-based prenatal and postnatal care, was also signed on the occasion. The project is to be implemented under the National Institute of Training in Ayush (NITIA).

Dr D Sajith Babu, State Mission Director, National AYUSH Mission Kerala, and Director of Ayurveda Medical Education, Dr TD Sreekumar, exchanged the MoU in the presence of the minister.

Additional Director of the Health Department Dr Reetha; Director of Ayurveda Medical Education, Dr. TD Sreekumar; Deputy Director of Homoeopathy, Dr. Priyadarshini; Principal of Govt Homeopathy College, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. TK Vijayan; Nodal Officer, National AYUSH Mission Kerala, Ajitha A; General Secretary, Ayurveda Medical Association of India, Dr PK Haridas; Assistant Director, CCRAS RARI, Dr. Sreedeepti GN; CEO and MD, State Medicinal Plants Board, Dr. TK Hrideek; MD, HOMCO, Dr. Shobha Chandran; and State Programme Manager, National AYUSH Mission Kerala (Homeopathy), Dr. Jayanarayanan R, also spoke.

Director, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine, Dr Preeya KS, welcomed the gathering and State Programme Manager (ISM), National AYUSH Mission Kerala, Dr Saji PR, proposed a vote of thanks.