Bengal provides Ayush training at block-level

Kolkata: The Bengal government has started Ayush (Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, Unani, Sidhha and Homeopathy) training at the block-level across the state to enhance health infrastructure in the rural areas.

The state government has completed the training programme for some of its medical officers, who would in turn train the other health workers at the district-level. After being trained, the district-level medical officers would train the Asha workers in the block level. The Asha workers will visit door-to-door to create awareness about fitness by using the traditional methods of treatment.

Various camps have been organised by the state government to train the medical officers. The Asha workers will visit the houses and train the people on how to combat diabetes, hypertension and others diseases by adopting some simple methods. The villagers in the block-level will be trained to identify the plants with medicinal value that are abundantly found in their vicinity.

The block-based training progarmme was started in Malda on May 16 and would continue till May 17. Similar programmes will be conducted in other districts in various phases. The programme was a part of National Ayush Mission, a campaign initiated by the Centre. The programme is run by Centre and the state government.

Dr Sumit Sur from National Ayurveda Students and Youth Association said: "We welcome the move taken by the Centre to provide assistance to the state government in order to flourish Ayush treatment at the block-level."

Dr Biswajit Ghosh, Ayurvedic Medical Officer, Uttar Chandipur Sadar Upaswasthya Kendra, in Malda said: "It is a unique initiative by the state government and it will help to promote the traditional methods of treatment in the villages."