By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Federal government of Nigeria says it is committed to the development and promotion of complimentary and traditional medicines.
The Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this while addressing participants at the 8th International Day of Yoga celebration organised by the India High Commission in Abuja.
The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21st June since 2015following its inception in the United Nation’s General Assembly in 2014at the instance of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
This year particularly, the day is being celebrated with pomp and pageantry to mark the victory of mankind’s resilient spirit over a devastating pandemic that sought to paralyse the world.
The Minister of health, represented by the Director of the Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Pharmacist Titus Tile, noted that the federal government is already taking steps towards collaborating with the High Commission of India to promote complimentary, traditional and alternative medicines.
According to him, such collaboration will assist the country deliver on her own vaccines.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting High Commissioner of India, V.S.D.L Surendra, said that people are rediscovering that harmony within themselves and with nature is the only way the world can achieve sustainable progress.
According to him, it is important that we strengthen and balance our spiritual, mental and physical well being so as to contribute effectively to the survival and flourishing of life on earth especially as the world is facing multiple challenges of climate change, devastating conflicts, food scarcity and poverty thereby, making the achievement of the UN sustainable Development Goals still appear to be a far chance, as such, one has to become the needed change.
The Acting High Commissioner urged all to embrace Yoga which will help them achieve internal balance and harmony so as to be able to spread happiness externally.
The event tagged Yoga for harmony and peace was well attended by both the Indi and Nigeria communities as well as the Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello among others.
The Heartiest heart kids thrilled the crowd with their Yoga dance.
