Need to document traditional knowledge of herbs, plants with medicinal values: President Murmu

Raipur: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday emphasised the need for documentation and standardisation of knowledge held by villagers and tribals about herbs and plants with medicinal values in order to save such information from going extinct.

Speaking at the third convocation of Pt Deendayal Memorial Health Science and Ayush University in Nava Raipur, the President said Chhattisgarh has a treasure of herbs and medicinal plants, of which villagers and tribals have immense knowledge.

"Documentation and standardisation of such knowledge is important to preserve them and save them from going extinct. By promoting research on the knowledge base of forest dwellers, such information can be scientifically used on a wide scale. It will also create employment opportunities," she said.

The President pointed out that infectious diseases such as malaria, filaria and tuberculosis (TB) were yet to be fully eradicated from the country, adding that the Union government was making concerted efforts to wipe them out.

"Sickle cell anaemia is a major problem among tribal communities. The Union government has been trying to overcome it through the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission," Murmu said.

Healthcare workers, as frontline warriors, can make people aware of health issues and act as a bridge between policymakers and the public, she said.

Speaking about climate change and global warming, the President said food habits of people across the world have been making problems associated with these two aspects even more complex.

The WWF's Living Planet Report 2024 has stated that India's food habits are considered the most sustainable among the bigger economies, she said.

"This underlines the importance of our traditional lifestyle, which we get from Ayurveda," President Murmu said.

Inactive lifestyle has also been encouraging many diseases, which put unnecessary pressure on our medical system and economy, the President said.

"Their prevention is possible through awareness. Traditional systems like Yoga and Ayurveda are effective in preventing such ailments", she said.

Murmu urged doctors to consider dedicating some tenure of their profession to rural areas and said healthcare professionals would be able to find the real problems of the masses by visiting rural areas.

Their stay in rural areas would enrich their experiences and sense of duty towards society, thereby, strengthening the country, the President pointed out.

"A feeling of respect towards teachers and doctors could be used to make people aware of social issues. For example, they can explain to people that drug abuse not only troubles their health but also degrades their social and economic status. Similarly, doctors can motivate people to donate blood and organs," Murmu said.

The good health of citizens is important for overall development as it increases productivity and creativity, and, therefore, health workers would play an important role in the making of developed Chhattisgarh, she said.

A developed Chhattisgarh would play an important role in making India a developed nation by the year 2047, Murmu added.

President Murmu said during her interactions in two engineering and two medical institutions during her two-day visit to Chhattisgarh, she saw glimpses of 'New India' in the youth.

New India is moving ahead with full strength to get its rightful place in the world, the President said.

Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and state Assembly speaker Raman Singh were among those present on the occasion.