After joining G20 bloc under India’s 2023 presidency, the African Nations are all set to explore the power of Indian Systems of Traditional Medicine and Integrative health care.
On Septeber 26, a 15-member group of High Commissioners and Ambassadors of East and Southern African Countries visited All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi to explore the cutting-edge science and interventions of AIIA in the field of Ayurveda and Integrative Health Care.
The African delegation, after being welcomed in a befitting Indian traditional way by AIIA, visited AIIA hospital, OPD etc. and came to know first-hand the advances and interventions made in primary and tertiary health care, adjuvant therapy etc. through Ayurveda.
Traditional medicine, as defined by the World Health Organization, is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illness.
Minister of Ayush and Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the African delegation and said that this visit will help in achieving the objective of Universal Health Coverage in African nations through the potential of Traditional Medicine Systems of India.
In his video message, Sonowal further highlighted the role of Ayurveda and other Traditional Medicine systems of India and said, “Traditional Medicine has always played an important role in meeting the global health care needs. World Health organization also recognizes its’ potential. Bringing Traditional Medicine in main healthcare can bridge access gaps for millions of people across the globe and would be an important step towards people centered and holistic approaches to health and well-being.”
The African delegation was deeply impressed and benefited from the various facets of AIIA by having first-hand account. During this historical visit, Dr Tanuja Nesari, Director AIIA, explained the tour de force of AIIA to the group and said, “AIIA is putting in every effort to take Ayurveda to the global community, and has entered into MoUs with more than 50 research organizations and reputed institutions or universities, among them 17 are of international repute.”
Earlier, the first ever WHO-Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, held in Gujarat, Gandhinagar on 17th-18th August 2023 also saw the increasing acceptance of Traditional Medicine in an interface of G20 health Ministers and Ministry of Ayush. This visit of African delegation is also being considered as in continuum and highlights the twin objective of projecting AIIA as a one stop destination for Medical Value Travel, and to advance tangible collaboration in traditional medicine with E&SA countries.