Azerbaijan to host global forum on health tourism
By Narmina Mammadova
A global forum on health tourism will be held in Azerbaijan in February 2019, chairman of the Azerbaijani Association for Support of Medical and Thermal Tourism, President of the World Health Tourism Organization Ruslan Guliyev said on December 13.
He said that more than 100 participants will arrive at the event, in particular, heads of structures for health tourism of the participating countries, top managers of the medical and health sector of the countries, as well as authoritative scientists in this field.
"As part of the event, which will be held for two days, a number of official meetings, plenary sessions, exhibitions, and also B2B meetings are planned," Guliyev said.
He noted that Azerbaijan's potential in the therapeutic and health sector, real opportunities and prospects, startups, etc., will be demonstrated at the event.
At the end of the event, it is planned to organize an info-tour for the participants to the Naftalan, Istisu, Galaalti and Duzdag medical and health centers, he added.
The health tourism in Azerbaijan has been noticeably improved after the adoption of the state program on development of resorts in 2009-2018. The association to support the health and thermal tourism in Azerbaijan was established to boost the sector, as well as modern medical and health centers were opened in Baku, Naftalan, Nakhchivan and other regions of the country.
Azerbaijan is a rich country. And wealth is not limited to "black gold". The preciousness of this earth is in its waters, nature, air, flora, fauna and natural resources.
Such healing natural factors as commercial waters, various types of oil and volcanic mud have been widely used for healing and prophylactic purposes in Azerbaijan since ancient times.
There are around 300 mud volcanoes existing in Azerbaijan. The mud is used for treatment of radiculitis, skin, cardiovascular, gynecological, urological diseases, and gastrointestinal disturbances. It is widely used in the cosmetology.
The country has been glorified by the export of medicinal oil, as a rare medicine, through the Great Silk Road for centuries.
Starting from the 19th century, people began to research natural medicinal resources in various parts of Azerbaijan. The results of the studies made it possible to call Azerbaijan a medical resort region.
It would suffice to mention the world famous Istisu, Galaalti, Naftalan, Duzdag recreational resorts.
One of the most famous thermal springs is the Istisu Hospital in Lankaran district, in Masalli. Today there are several hospitals on the territory of Istisu, which are designed for both budget and vip guests.
The first thing you notice when you arrive at Istisu is the smell of sulfur and steam that rolls over the ground. The water emerges from the depths of the earth, and its temperature exceeds 60 degrees.
The list of diseases for which they are treated here is very wide: rheumatism and its side effects (arthritis, polyarthritis, joint pain), skin diseases (psoriasis, dermatitis, neurodermatitis, fungal diseases, eczema), kidney and urethral diseases, radiculitis, prostate, diseases of the liver and biliary tract, gastrointestinal and female diseases, as well as female and male infertility.
Locals call this water “miraculous water” and claim that this is one answer to a hundred misfortunes.
A source of healing water was discovered in the mountainous forests 20 kilometers from the Devechi region (now Shabran) above the village of Galaalti in 1969. 7 sources of water, which possess a large margin, were identified in the forest.
Water Galaalti is used in the treatment of urolithiasis in various forms. It normalizes the body's metabolism, and also has an alkalizing effect on the blood and urine, reduces the formation of uric acid and promotes its removal from the body, reduces the acidity of the gastric juice, reduces the permeability of cell membranes, reduces bleeding, has anti-inflammatory effect, increases diuresis, removes excess fluid from the body. Due to its immunological action, it renews the body's defenses, helps eliminate inflammation in organs and tissues, eliminate metabolic products and toxic substances, thereby preventing early aging of the body.
It possesses a unique natural complex of organic substances, which makes it the only healing mineral water in the world that has been recognized by urologists from many countries.
Naftalan Azerbaijan is a world famous health resort. This is the only unique Naftalan oil field in the world.
Medical resort Naftalan was opened in 1926. Patients from all over the USSR gathered here. The representatives of the elite often came to be treated in Naftalan too.
Naftalan has been famous since ancient times as an effective treatment for lesions of the musculoskeletal system. Naftalan oil is also used in the treatment of skin, urological, gynecological diseases. It relieves inflammation, reduces pain, improves blood circulation, speeds up metabolism. “The spring of black gold is the key to healing” - this is the slogan of Naftalan sanatoriums and health centers.
Moreover, Azerbaijan is also known for its salt mines used for asthma therapy. The most popular one is called “Duzdagh Cave” (salty mountain cave) located in Nakhchivan. There are over-and underground treatment premises located 300 meters below sea level. The Cave is rich with sodium chloride ions which are useful for treatment of bronchial asthma, hay fever, bronchitis, rhinitis and other respiratory organs diseases.
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