By Dr. Syed Ahmed, TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The Manipur unit of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) is organizing free Unani treatment camps in the large Muslim concentrated areas of Imphal under the Clinical Pilot Project (Unani). One such free treatment camp was organized at the ground of the Bare Jame Masjid at Minuthong Golapati, in Imphal, on June 15, 2013.
The one-day camp gave free health check-up and treatment to around 300 Muslim patients, including women and children. A team of doctors and nurses attended the patients with great care and concern. Medicines were also distributed.
CCRUM comes under the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The head office is at Jawaharlal Nehru Anusandhan Bhavan, Janakpuri, in New Delhi. The State unit of CCRUM is at present attached to the office building of the Regional Research Institute of Homeopathy (RRIH) at New Checkon Tribal Colony in Imphal East District.
One of the doctors at the camp, Dr. Majid Ali informed that the State unit of CCRUM has been organizing such free treatment camps in many parts of the Imphal areas over the last few months under the Clinical Pilot Project (Unani) to promote the Unani System of treatment. “Unani is not very popular in the North-Eastern region of India. In order to promote Unani system in this region Central Government had opened the State unit of CCRUM two years back in Thoubal district. Later the office had to be shifted to Imphal considering the insecure law and order situation is Thoubal,” Ali added.
Ali, who hails from Delhi, further said there are at present six State Unani Centres, all under National Rural Health Mission (NHRM). CCRUM is the only Central unit working in the State, Ali added.
“In these free Unani treatment camps our team of doctors treat various diseases, namely skin diseases like vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis, etc., digestive disorders like acid peptic disease, indigestion, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, respiratory disorders like bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc., muscxulo-skeletal disorders like arthritis and osteoporosis, neurological disorders like senile dementia, paresis, etc., cardio-vascular disorders like hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, etc., life style and metabolic disorders like obesity, gout, diabetes mellitus, hyper-lipidemia, etc. and some of the common sexual disorders,” Ali added.
Another doctor at the camp, Dr. Islam Ansari said, “This time we have selected some of the large Muslim inhabited areas of Imphal city, like Minuthong Golapati, Mana Ingkhol, Hafiz Hatta, Entakulla, etc. These areas are densely populated. Most of these people come from the remote villages to earn their livelihood here. They are poor, illiterate and least concerned about their health. Even though these areas come under the Imphal Municipal area the health centres are not working effectively.”
Maolana Atabuddin, a resident of Minuthong Golapati who came for treatment at the camp, said, “The Muslim localities in and around Imphal city need such free health camp. Majority of the Muslims in our locality are poor and they do not have adequate money to invest in treatment. They are unaware of the health schemes that the Government provides as they are mostly illiterate. Government has also failed to provide proper health care facilities in this area.”
“I completed my Alim course from a madrasa in mainland India. I am familiar with Unani system of treatment. However, the system is not so popular here. Such free treatment camps will help in popularizing the system,” Atabuddin added.