Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey at the carnival organised in Patna on Sunday. Picture by J Prakash

Patna, Feb. 6: Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey today advised people to make the city free of diseases by opting for alternative medicines and therapy.

Speaking at the Frosty Fun Winter Carnival fete organised by Cancer Awareness Society at Bankipore Club, Choubey said: “This is only possible if people go for alternative therapy like Ayurveda, yoga, unani and homoeopathy.” Choubey believes that allopathy has side effects and is harmful.

He said: “There is a need to learn more about natural therapies and alternative medicines. For many traditional health practitioners, invasive medical procedures and state-of-the-art medical devices are not the only option to achieve a fit body and peace of mind. To fight diseases like cancer, it is very important to keep the body and mind healthy and it is only possible through alternative therapy like Ayurveda, yoga, unani and homoeopathy.

The minister announced that every year on February 4, cancer awareness programmes will be held in the state from the block level to the state level. He said the state would hold cancer awareness programmes from next year and all officials of health department would be apprised of it.

He said: “Cancer is a dangerous disease and every year, around 12 per cent people die of it in India and 27 per cent women suffer from cervical cancer.”

He said: “The state government is going to form a cancer control committee to work in the field of National Cancer Control Programme.”

The minister also honoured two cancer patients — Ram Vilas Yadav from Ara district and Abdul Wahid from Bettiah district — who fought cancer and are now leading a healthy life.

Choubey said: “Everyone must plant at least five trees and educate five people to build a healthy society.”

He said: “We are also planning to purchase new and latest machines to treat cancer patients and a superspecialty hospital with state-of-the-art facility will also be built in the state shortly.”

Many children and their parents had a gala time in the fete, where plenty of stalls had been put up. A variety of Indian and Chinese food items were sold at the stalls to raise funds for the society.