WHO Chief Dr Tedros greets public in Gujarati at Jamnagar event; Watch how PM Modi reacted

In a key development on Tuesday, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus addressed the audience after WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat was inaugurated by PM Modi. In his address, the WHO chief remembered his schooling days and added that he has good knowledge about the benefits of the traditional medicines as he was taught about the same by the Indian teachers while, he was studying biology.

Further, he thanked Indian PM Modi for investing 250 million US dollars in the establishment of the traditional health centre and an interim office. It is pertinent to mention that the Indian government has already announced that they will be bearing the operating cost of the centre for the first 10 years. 

Praising India and the project WHO chief said, "This is a truly global project, this means that India will go the world & the whole world will come to India."

Explaining the importance of traditional medicine and the significance of this newly inaugurated centre, WHO chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said, "WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine that we are launching will help to harness the power of science to strengthen evidence-based traditional medicine. I'm grateful to PM Modi & GoI for their leadership in supporting this important initiative."

On a lighter note, WHO President Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus during his speech used three languages including GujaratI, Hindi and English. He started his address by asking the crowd in Gujarati kem Cho which literally translates to How are you? He also used some Hindi words during his address while, the whole address was primarily in the English language. PM Modi applauded WHO Chief's address.

5 main areas of work of the traditional medicine centre

Elaborating on the areas where the new centre will focus, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus listed 5 points. WHO's chief 5 points were: 

• Leadership and partnership in working with our global networks.
• Expand the knowledge of traditional medicine by expanding clinical trials.
• Data and analytics: The data of WHO's reliable data will help to understand the use of traditional medicine.
• To tackle problems affecting the sustainability of bio-diversity and other similar issues.
• Innovation and technology: Help of Artificial intelligence which has already started mapping the patterns for the WHO app.

Traditional Medicine Centre 

PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the Traditional Medicine Centre which will focus on traditional medicine like Ayurveda and will enable the international community in making investments in traditional medicine. Along with PM Modi and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, CM of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel and Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya were present during the inauguration.

It is pertinent to mention that PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, PM of Bhutan Lotay Tshering and Nepal's PM Sher Bahadur Deuba attended the event virtually and elaborated on the importance of traditional medicines.