Protect indigenous medical system - Veddha chief

Priyanka KURUGALA

'Due to the negligence of the authorities the nation's 37,000 year old indigenous medical system is being threatened with extinction depriving the future generations of its unique benefits. As a result of this trend very unhealthy generation is being created, said Veddha leader Uruwarige Wannile Aththo.

Veddha Chief Uruwarige Wannile Aththo presenting a bottle of bee’s honey to Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake.

He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Indigenous Medicine Center in Dambana, Mahiyangane recently.

Under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Project to Protect the Culture of Veddha People was launched by the ministry. The foundation stone laying ceremony was held under the patronage of Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake.

"I am very happy at the moment. This move will help to re-build our traditional medical system, he said. The Veddha community has a number of traditional medicines and folk treatment methods to cure diseases. However, gradually moves are under way towards eradication of this valuable medical system from the country, he said.

"Generally the, Veddha community lives in the jungle. At present if anyone is bitten by a snake nobody can help him, because the people of our tradition do not have medical registration to treat them. Due to this situation people have to die in the forests, he said.

Due to the community not having recognized medical qualification they do not have the chance at least to perform a midwife service. At that time Veddha people had the ability to help and treat even a dangerous pregnancy to deliver the baby easily. It is not so now.

At preset pregnant mothers of the Veddha community have to enter government hospitals two weeks before delivering. However, these mothers have to deliver very unhealthy babies whenever personnel in the government hospital treated them, he emphasized. "We have to drink foreign milk. Have to eat foreign food. We have heard that uncommon diseases are spreading. Therefor we request the minister to resurrect the traditional medical system of the Veddha people.

Indigenous Medicine Ministry Secretary Bandula Disanayake and North Western Provincial Council Member Manjula Dissanayake also participated in this event.