IMPHAL, February 9: The Apunba Manipur Maiba-Maibi (Manipur State Traditional Healers Association) under the sponsorship of the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Department of Biotechnology, government of India Takyelpat today organised a state conference of the Maiba-Maibi today at the multipurpose hall of the IBSD.
Padmashree Laishram Nabakishore and advisor of the Apunba Manipur Maiba-Maibi Phurup (AMMMP) attended the function as chief guest while Dr Sudripta Das, Scientific-E and chairman IMC, IBSD and N Tombi Raj, president AMMMP were the guest of honour and president, respectively.
During the function, Tombi Raj expressed that the conference has been organised to highlight the utility of the bio-resources available in Manipur including plants, animals and many other sub-species.
Treatment of ailments through bio-resources medicine is effective to patients, he said.
He further mentioned that the bio-resources found in the state should be used with restrain so that it can be preserved for the future generation also.
The traditional healing which has already been recognised by the World Health Organisation are still not found in the two major medical institutes of the state – the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jawaharlal Nehru Institutes of Medical Sciences, he asserted.
He further continued that the government of India has also shown its interest in this field and consequently the North East Institutes of Folk Medicine, NEIFM was established at Pashighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
There are two bio-diversity hotspots in the country one at Western Ghats and the other at the Eastern Himalayas, he said before adding that the Eastern Himalayas is rich in traditional medicinal plants, animals species, etc.
He further said that the testing of traditional medicines has started at IBSD and the registration of the traditional healers (maiba-maibi).
The patent right of the traditional medicines and healing process will also be granted soon, he added.
