The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 17 December, 2001)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 17 December, 2001)(1/2)

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1. State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
   Than Shwe sends message of felicitations to Bhutan
2. State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
   Than Shwe's message to Second Traditional Medicine
   Practitioners' Conference
3. Second Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference opens
4. National Literary Awards, Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards,
   National Motto, Literary and Photo Competitions prizes
   presented
5. Dinner hosted in honour of literary award winners
6. Second Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference continues
7. Myanmar and French palaeontologists go on field trip
8. - Sacred Buddha relics from Sri Lanka conveyed to Taunggyi
   - Japan donates monastic school buildings
   - Sarsodaw Day commemorative book fair continues
9.  Drugs seized in Kutkai

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( 1 )  State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe
sends message of felicitations to Bhutan

Yangon, 17 Dec - On the occasion of the National Day of Bhutan which falls on
17 December 2001, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of
felicitations to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan.
___________________________

( 2 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe's
message to Second Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference

 Yangon, 16 Dec-The following is a translation of the message sent by the
State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. The
Government of the Union of Myanmar has encouraged the systematic development
and propagation of traditional medicine. It is also mentioned in the National
Health Policy to enhance the provision of health care services through the
use of Myanmar Traditional Medicine. At this juncture, the convening of the
2nd Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference is most opportune, as it
will effectively contribute towards enhancing the quality of traditional
medicine in addition to its systematic development and widespread use.

 All Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners, who have cherished and
nurtured traditional medicine and provided health care to the public will be
united and actively participate in the conference. Myanmar traditional
medicine has flourished over thousands of years and has become a distinct
entity, for which we can all take pride. That it has emerged as a delicate,
complex and important subject for learning is due to the unstinting efforts
of our Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners or physicians. The scope of
traditional medicine is very wide. Myanmar traditional medicine covers basic
Traditional subjects, numerous treatises on traditional medicine, plethora of
methods on prescribing enormous variety of traditional drugs that are very
potent and effective.

If traditional medicine is not systematically developed and nurtured it is
bound to slowly fade away and disappear. Myanmar Traditional Medicine, which
is rich in essence, should be harnessed and developed using modern scientific
methods. With proper standardization and good quality assurance the role of
traditional medicine will be greatly enhanced, which will be popular not only
in Myanmar but also abroad. Today, the time has arrived for all traditional
medicine practitioners, various disciplines of traditional medicine, numerous
methods of prescribing and traditional drugs all over the country to be
consolidated and systematically developed. Scientific methods must be applied
in order to enhance the quality and widespread use of traditional medicine.

With the aim to enhance Myanmar Traditional Medicine and promote its
systematic development, the Government of the Union of Myanmar has taken
measures to upgrade the teaching institutions of traditional medicine and
open courses that confer degree in traditional medicine. More traditional
medicine hospitals and clinics have been opened to provide health care
services to the people. The Government has encouraged research and scientific
development on the practice of traditional medicine that has been handed down
from generation to generation and on various methods and portions that are
well known for its effectiveness in certain regions of Myanmar. Research has
also been promoted on the efficacy of traditional drugs and herbal gardens
have been maintained to preserve indigenous medicinal plants.

Workshops and seminars have been conducted to enable traditional medicine
practitioners to discuss and exchange knowledge and experiences on the
development of traditional medicine. Special emphasis has been accorded to
the scientific development of traditional medicine and to identify indigenous
drugs, portions and practices that could effectively treat certain illnesses
that could not be cured by western medicines. In some cases, the combined
treatment of an illness, using both traditional and western medicine has been
encouraged. Efforts have been undertaken by various government departments to
utilize modern equipment and scientific methods in the practice of
traditional medicine and to conduct scientific research in the field of
traditional medicine.

At the time when the Government is providing all-out support for enhancing
traditional medicine, it is envisaged that all Myanmar traditional medicine
practitioners will be united and take this opportunity to work concertedly at
this conference to further promote the scientific development of Myanmar
Traditional Medicine. In addition, the conference will give rise to the
establishment of Myanmar Traditional Medicine PractitionersÕ Association,
that will stand as a united and strong national force, enhancing the prestige
of traditional medicine and ensuring its perpetual existence and propagation
in Myanmar.

 Traditional medicine will increasingly assume an important role in providing
effective health services for the people. I wish the Traditional Medicine
Practitioners' Conference every success. I would like to urge everyone to
uphold our national heritage and pride and make special efforts so that
traditional medicine flourishes not only in our country but also is made
known throughout the world.

___________________________

( 3 )  The government expects Myanmar Traditional Medicine to become well
developed, attaining international standards and to play an increasing
important role in providing effective health care services to the people

 Second Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference opens

Yangon, 16 Dec - The opening ceremony of the Second Traditional Medicine
Practitioners' Conference was held at 9 am today at the Pyidaungsu Hall in
Kyaik-kasan Grounds here. State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior
General Than Shwe sent a message to it and National Health Committee Chairman
State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered
the opening address.

 Also present on the occasion were State Peace and Development Council Member
Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Chairman Commander Maj-Gen Khin
Maung Than, the ministers, the Chief Justice, the Auditor-General, the Mayor
of Yangon, National Health Committee members, the deputy ministers, officials
of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads,
diplomats, resident representatives of UN agencies, directors-general of
various departments under the Ministry of Health, traditional medicine
practitioners, delegates to the Traditional Medicine Practitioners'
Conference, Traditional Medicine Inspection Central Committee members,
officials of the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, the Myanmar
Red Cross Society, the Myanmar Medical Association, the Myanmar Nurses
Association, the Myanmar Dental Association and the Myanmar Health Assistant
Association as well as members of Union Solidarity and Development
Association and guests.

At the ceremony, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein read out the message to
the conference sent by State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior
General Than Shwe.

 Next, National Health Committee Chairman State Peace and Development Council
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt delivered the opening address. In his address,
he said:

 I would like to wish you all to be blessed with good physical and mental
health and welcome you all to this conference. May all of you be also
successful in providing health care services with traditional medicine
extensively. At a time when the Government is encouraging the development of
traditional medicine, which has withstood the test of time and has re-emerged
as a potent force, the holding of the 2nd Traditional Medicine Practitioners'
Conference will reflect to the momentum of systematic development of
traditional medicine.

 The united and active participation of Myanmar Traditional Medicine
Practitioners at this conference depicts the commitment to the concerted
efforts of all concerned for the future enhancement of traditional medicine.
Myanmar Traditional Medicine, dates back to the beginning of Myanmar
civilization and culture and have been greatly treasured by the Myanmar
people and even utilized by royalty through the ages. It has formed an
integral part of our way of life and has been closely intertwined with our
culture, traditions, religious beliefs and attitudes. Looking back in the
historical context, Myanmar Traditional Medicine is the combination of four
Nayas, namely, Desana Naya, Bethitsa Naya, Netkliata Naya and Vissadara Naya.


As a result of the efforts of the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners,
traditional medicine has gained a stature of high standing. At the dawn of
Myanmar civilization, in the Pyu era, it was found that Ayuvedic medicine
which was included in Bethitsa Naya, was widely practised. During the Bagan
era, when Theraverda Buddhism was at its zenith, Desana Naya medicine based
on Buddhist teachings and astrological based Netkhata Naya medicine
flourished. Up to the present tunes Myanmar Traditional Medicine is very
firmly established in society.

Over the ages, due to the relentless efforts of Myanmar Traditional Medicine
Practitioners, the scope of traditional medicine has increased immensely,
encompassing many disciplines of traditional medicine, several treatises on
indigenous medicine, numerous effective prescriptions and a variety of potent
traditional drugs. Not only has Myanmar Traditional Medicine become very
effective but it has attained a level of standard as a respected discipline.
It has taken tremendous efforts to master the art of traditional medicine and
to enhance it to the current level of high status, indicating that
traditional medicine stands out as a respected discipline.

During the time when Myanmar was forcibly colonized, the colonialists not
only suppressed or destroyed  our cultural heritage but also suppressed
traditional medicine. Traditional medicine practitioners and traditional
medicine was ridiculed and became dispersed all over the country and it
nearly became extinct. Due to the lack of systematic teaching of traditional
medicine, a tendency to be secretive and reluctance to pass on the knowledge
and skills and the custom of handing over the trade only to one's kith and
kin, it has led to loss of many valuable traditional medicine treatises,
prescription methods and indigenous medicines.

As a result, traditional medicine has become disintegrated, giving rise to
different versions and interpretations in various regions of the country.
Thus, the potent force of Myanma traditional medicine gradually declined.
That is why the Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, has provided guidance
to rejuvenate Myanmar Traditional Medicine, that can be considered as a
national heritage and which has been found to be efficacious and widely used
by the population; and to scientifically develop traditional medicine to meet
international standards.

The Government has taken a leading role for the development of traditional
medicine to attain international recognition and has provided necessary
support to implement the guidelines stated by the Head of State, Senior
General Than Shwe. These guidelines are: To restore the near extinct
discipline of Myanmar traditional medicine, potent indigenous medicines,
medicinal plants/herbs and support learned traditional medicinal
practitioners.

 To develop traditional medicine so that it is internationally accepted
through systematic standardization by using modern scientific research
methods and modern equipments.

To combine traditional and western medicine to treat certain illnesses and to
identify traditional medicines and prescriptions that could effectively treat
certain diseases that could not be cured by western medicine.

To develop qualified human resources for systematic development and expansion
of traditional medicine. In reality, the scope of Myanmar traditional
medicine is very wide and is firmly rooted as a distinct entity. By making
traditional medicine more scientifically developed, traditional medicines
would become more potent and internationally acceptable. It could become an
important means of providing health care services to all citizens in the
country.

 It could also gain internationally recognition. If we look at the current
situation in the world today, most of the drugs produced are based on
chemicals, which has side effects. Therefore, there is a tendency to prefer
natural bio-products. Some have even made considerable economic gains by
marketing one or two effective, good traditional medicines internationally.
In Myanmar there has been the development of modern methods for production of
traditional medicines and internationally acceptable manufacturing practices,
packaging and storage systems have been established. Research has been
conducted on traditional medicines that are effective in treating certain
diseases that could not be cured by western medicine and the proper
standardization and systematic recording is underway.

 Myanmar traditional drugs for domestic use such as drugs for cough,
indigestion, flatulence, anti-pyretics and tonics have been systematically
produced and efforts have been made to export these traditional medicines. In
addition, we need to take special efforts to make internationally well known,
some of our specialized methods of traditional medicine that are extremely
effective in treating conditions such as wounds and ulcers, hypertension,
paralysis, neuralgia and also the discipline of physiotherapy. On the other
hand, while conducting scientific research on production of potent
traditional medicines, we should take every effort to preserve our Myanmar
Traditional Medicine.

For example, in Myanmar Traditional Medicine, each segment of a tree such as
the root, seed, flower, bark has distinct properties that are used in
relation to the five elements of herbs. Not only plants but also animal
products, marine products have been widely used. Some traditional medicines,
besides having innate properties have been found to undergo biological
reactions inside the human body, giving rise to different property.
Traditional medicine is very delicate and sometimes mystical. The same
traditional drug, depending on the disease can be given with rice water,
coconut juice, sesamum oil, palm leaf juice, which will produce different
distinct properties.

 Thus, while striving to make traditional medicine more scientific so that it
is internationally acceptable, we must take care that some of the natural
innate traditional practices though delicate and mystical are not discarded
or lost but are carefully preserved. At this opportune time, when the
government is providing necessary support, when traditional medicine is
increasingly found to he potent, when the world is craving for indigenous
cures, it is up to the traditional medicine practitioners in Myanmar to seize
to opportunity to enhance the role of traditional medicine. Thus, I would
like to urge all the traditional medicine practitioners attending this
conference to work in unison to make the utmost of the favourable conditions
to further the interest and development of traditional medicine.

In order to ensure that traditional medicine attains a high status and ensure
its perpetual place in society, I would like this conference to strive for
the establishment of a single united Myanmar Traditional Medicine
Practitioners' Association. The government expects Myanmar Traditional
Medicine to become well developed, attaining international standards and to
play an increasing important role in providing effective health care services
to the people. I would like to urge all the traditional medicine
practitioners to be united and strive to propel traditional medicine to a new
golden era. In conclusion, I would like to request and urge all traditional
medicine practitioners:

To consolidate all Myanmar Traditional Medicine Disciplines, invaluable
treatises, potent indigenous drugs, and all traditional medical practitioners
into a strong and distinct national resource and to preserve traditional
medicine as a national heritage.

To work unitedly towards the development of effective and potent Myanmar
Traditional Drugs using scientific research methods.

To systematically establish the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners
Association and for all Traditional Medicine Practitioners to act unitedly
under the banner of the association for the development of traditional
medicine and its standardization and to provide good quality health care
services with traditional medicine to the people.

To mobilize all traditional medicine practitioners as a strong national
resource group that would help each other and work to enhance the prestige of
traditional medicine and strive for maintaining the important role
traditional medicine.

After the opening ceremony, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party cordially
greeted with traditional medicine practitioners and delegates to the
conference.
__________________________

to be continued ...