Acupressure practitioners here on Friday urged the government to initiate a special section under the Directorate General of Health Services to promote naturopathic treatment in the country. A good number of acupressure practitioners, who include some medical practitioners from the mainstream, have been successfully healing ailments of people for about a decade, and the government should take steps for giving formal recognition of the practice in the country, they said at a discussion to remember the contributions of Devendra Vora, the India-based guru of acupressure.
The discussion was organised by the Society for Bangaj Swachikitsa Poribar at the Jatiya Press Club. Poribar president Sagar Sagir said many of the acupressure practitioners have treating patients in the country for a decade, but the practice is yet to be recognised institutionally by the government.
Institutionalisation of the natural method can prove to be a cost-saving alternative or supportive to allopathic treatments, he said, noting that acupressure can reduce drug consumption of patients by providing alternative healing to many health complications.
Speaking on the occasion, Indian deputy high commissioner in Bangladesh Sandeep Chakraborty said the Indian government has already taken initiatives to promote education on naturopathic treatments, including acupressure.
At present, the Indian government is providing scholarships to five Bangladeshi students in the field, he added.
The tremendous pressure on the health care systems in developing countries like India and Bangladesh can be reduced by promoting acupressure, he pointed out.
The discussion was also addressed by Bangladesh Acupressure Society president Dr Sultana Ahmed and Amader Orthonity editor Naimul Islam Khan. – UNB
