Mangaluru: Deputy commissioner held a press meet on ‘AYUSH Habba – 2015’ at the DC Office, State Bank here, on December 18.
Addressing the mediapersons the President of AYUSH Habba, Dr Asha Jyothi Rai said, “AYUSH Habba 2015 will be held on 19 and 20 December at Dr Shivram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama. The main aim of the festival is to create awareness and popularize the age old medicines. 12 AYUSH clinics will be set up at the festival and free consultation will be given to the visitors. 30 to 40 food items related to AYUSH will be sold at subsidized prices.” The clinics will give consultations and prescribe medicines to “lifestyle disorders” like diabetes, hypertension, neurological disorders, skin disorders, ENT, eye disorders, etc, she added.
District AYUSH officer, Dr Devdas said that a 25 bed hospital had come up in Lalbagh, which was yet to be formally launched to treat in-patients. “Currently we provide treatment to out-patients only. Problems related to skin, gynecology are treated in the hospital. Ayurveda is 1000 years old and patients should benefit from this age old knowledge. We have ayurvedic dispensaries in Balkunje, Jokatte, Belthangady and Bantwal. A homeopathy dispensary is set up in Gurpur and a naturopathy dispensary in Puttur.”
Deputy Commissioner, AB Ibrahim asked all citizens to take part in the event and benefit from AYUSH Habba. “Free AYUSH arogya cards will be distributed to the visitors. These cards can be used to avail concessions at select hospitals in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Information on yoga will also be given,” he said.
Dr Devdas said, “Cow products are used extensively in ayurveda. Their information and various Indian cow breeds will be on display at the Habba. Various fruits, roots, barks used in ayurveda will be exhibited during AYUSH Habba. Beauty treatment, home remedy, treatment by changing lifestyle and food habits, a programme on production of medicinal plants by farmers and information centre are the highlights of the festival.”
AYUSH Habba will be inaugurated by Minister for Environment, Forest and Ecology, B Ramanath Rai and U T Khader, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare on December 19 at 10 am. Cultural programme will be held every day between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm by students of Alva’s College and SDM College.