Former dean of Hamdard University’s School of Unani Medical Education, Prof. S M Arif Zaidi, has urged Unani doctors to offer the full range of medical treatments and surgeries.
Speaking as Chief Guest at a meeting of doctors organized by the All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC) Delhi unit along with Drugs Laboratories, Prof. Zaidi asked Unani doctors to learn from allopathy, which has borrowed heavily from this Perso-Arabic traditional system of medicine.
Urging Unani doctors to overcome any feelings of inferiority, Dr. Zaidi asserted that Unani is one of the oldest medical systems in the world, while Allopathy had a history of only one or two hundred years.
Asserting that Unani offers all kinds of treatments and healthcare facilities, he stated that it has a lot to offer in the modern era in terms of healthcare. However, encouraging Unani doctors to acquaint themselves with modern medical equipment, surgical techniques and surgeries, he advised them to set up their clinics in posh areas, where they would be recognized and respected. He announced that they are planning to build a Unani hospital like the world-renowned Apollo Hospital, where patients have access to all kinds of modern facilities and treatments.
While presiding over the meeting, Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan, National General Secretary of AIUTC, mentioned that AIUTC consistently communicated the challenges and issues confronting the Unani medical system to both Union and state governments, and effective solutions were devised.
Describing the future of Unani as promising and bright, he urged people to encourage their children to learn this medical system. Noting that the post of Deputy Director of Unani in the AYUSH department in the national capital, Delhi, has remained vacant for years, Dr. Syed Ahmad demanded the government fill it as soon as possible to promote Unani medicine in the state.
On this occasion, Dr. Habibullah, the CMO of Unani Medicine in Tihar Jail, Delhi, and Dr.Zakiuddin, former Deputy Director of the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, also delivered speeches. The event was attended by Hakim Murtaza Dehelvi, Hakim Aftab Alam, Dr. Mohammad Nasim, Dr. Athar Mahmood, Dr. Mirza Asif Baig, and others.
On this occasion, Dr. Fahim Malik was appointed General Secretary of the Delhi state, and the current General Secretary, Dr. Altaf Ahmed, was promoted to Vice President. The Delhi state president, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, hosted the meeting.