The following is a speech of video message in honour of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar delivered by SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing on 22 November.
Everybody,
Mingalaba!
To all
distinguished officials, esteemed traditional medicine practitioners from
various regions and states, related professionals, and guests bound for the
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar, I wish you
all great blessings and happiness. May you all enjoy good health and peace of
mind. May you continue to cherish, preserve, and elevate the cultural heritage
of Myanmar’s traditional medicine. With these heartfelt wishes, I extend my
warm greetings to you all.
The
conferences and seminars have been held annually since 2000, and this year’s
occasion is the 23rd time. This year’s conference will be held with the
objectives of: Achieving quality recognition in traditional medicine education;
advancing the development of traditional medicine and ensuring the production
of traditional medicines in line with modern standards; turning out more highly
qualified traditional medicine practitioners; and promoting respect and
appreciation for Myanmar’s traditional medicine heritage and cultural legacy.
The annual organization of conferences and seminars aims to enhance public
health in line with Myanmar’s traditional practices of effectively caring for
the health of the people through indigenous medicine and remedies. This initiative
is intended to further strengthen healthcare for the population using the
country’s traditional medical knowledge and medicines, continuing the
long-standing tradition throughout Myanmar’s history.
In this era,
the nation’s focus is on promoting the healthcare sector to ensure the
longevity and well-being of all citizens, aligning with the national objective
of fostering a healthy and fit population. In this endeavour, human resources
play a pivotal role, as only through knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced
professionals in the field of healthcare can the nation achieve greater
development. To modernize and elevate the standards of Myanmar traditional
medicine, a prestigious Traditional Medicine University dedicated to
traditional medicine has been established. This institution produces skilled
human resources annually, contributing to the advancement of Myanmar’s
traditional medicine.
I would like
to urge traditional medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs to actively
participate in the traditional medicine sector to help improve the life
expectancy of the people and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality,
comprehensive healthcare services. The traditional medicine of Myanmar, based
on the four pillars of cultural heritage – Desana Naya, Bhesajja Naya,
Vijjadhara Naya, and Nakkhatta Naya – has enabled effective treatments and
cures. The texts, records, and medical writings passed down through
generations, including ancient prescriptions, therapeutic methods, and medical
scriptures, hold immense value. Therefore, Myanmar’s great traditional medicine
practitioners must preserve and protect these cultural heritages of traditional
medicines, while also sharing and further developing them for the benefit of
future generations.
It is
understood that at this year’s seminar, thirteen papers will be presented.
These papers include traditional medicines and therapies used by ethnic people,
and it has been observed that these medicines and therapies are actively used
by ethnic communities. It is hoped that everyone will work together to ensure
that these traditional medicines and treatments become widely known and
accessible to the public.
Furthermore,
to ensure that high-quality, safe, and beneficial traditional medicines are
accessible to the public, more research on traditional medicine needs to be
carried out and documented. To facilitate the review of these research efforts,
an annual paper-reading event has been organized. This year, the 13th
Traditional Medicine Research Paper-Reading Session was successfully held.
Therefore, traditional medicine practitioners, researchers, medical
professionals, related experts, and traditional medicine producers must all
diligently study and make efforts. I am pleased to see that the proceedings of
the 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and the Seminar
held last year have been compiled into a record book.
Our country
is actively collaborating with international organizations and various sectors,
including the traditional medicine sector. To modernize and advance traditional
medicine, we need to send scholars abroad to learn new technologies, share
knowledge, and apply these insights in a way that aligns with the needs of our
country for further development. I am pleased to see that on 25 June 2024, the
University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay) of the Department of Traditional
Medicine and the Yunnan Traditional Medicine University of China, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a step forward in the development of
traditional medicine.
The
government is providing strong support to integrate traditional medicine into
the country’s healthcare system. With the government’s encouragement,
traditional medicine practitioners have continuously cared for the health of
the people. Additionally, in the face of natural disasters and epidemics,
traditional medicine practitioners have been seen helping and providing care,
which is highly appreciated and commendable.
In addition,
as part of the country’s economic objectives, which include enhancing and
driving economic growth, efforts are being made to support and promote MSMEs
(Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in the manufacturing sector and the
export industry. In this regard, there is ongoing support for the manufacturing
of traditional medicine, to ensure their long-term sustainability. Efforts are
being made not only to boost the domestic industry but also to elevate these
businesses to the local, national, and international levels, aiming for greater
production of high-quality traditional medicines. This will contribute
significantly to the national economy.
According to
Myanmar traditional medicine, to live a long, healthy life and be free from
diseases, it is important to follow a system based on four pillars: fate, mind,
environment, and nutrition. If one lives and eats in accordance with this
system, they will experience the benefits of good health. Traditional medicine
practitioners, even in remote rural areas, not only provide herbal treatments
but also promote the daily practices of traditional health systems to ensure
people are knowledgeable about maintaining proper diet and health. This makes
me feel grateful and pleased. I encourage further efforts to continue and
expand these initiatives.
In
conclusion, the purpose of organizing the annual conference and seminar for
Myanmar’s traditional medicine practitioners is to ensure the long-term health
and well-being of the people through traditional medicine. It is also aimed at
fostering greater trust, respect, and reliance on traditional medicine among
the people. May representatives from the Ministry of Health, Traditional
Medicine Department, Traditional Medicine University, relevant ministries,
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Council, Advisory Board for Traditional Medicine,
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, Myanmar Traditional
Medicine Entrepreneurs and Medical Entrepreneurs Association, and all
traditional medicine practitioners across the nation come together with love and
harmony, and be able to discuss and consult in unity. I wish for the
development of Myanmar’s traditional medicine to be accelerated so that we can
further improve the health and well-being of the people with high-quality care.
With this, I conclude my remarks, wishing for success and good fortune.
Thank you
all.
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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