This handout picture taken and released by the World Health Organization on Oct 5, 2020 shows World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wearing a protective face mask attending a WHO executive board holds special session on the COVID-19 response at the health agency's headquarters in Geneva. (CHRISTOPHER BLACK / WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION / AFP)

NEW DELHI - The World Health Organization (WHO)'s  Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said during a video message on the Ayurveda Day in India that the global health body will set up a global center on traditional medicine in India.

"I am pleased to announce that we have agreed to open a WHO global center on traditional medicine in India to strengthen the evidence, research, training and awareness of traditional and complementary medicine," Ghebreyesus said.

"This new center will support WHO's efforts to implement the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023, which aims to support countries in developing policies and action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine as part of their journey to universal health coverage and a healthier, fairer and safer world," said the WHO chief.

ALSO READ: India's COVID-19 recovery rate rises to 88.81%

Ghebreyesus's message came during an event in which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated India's first two Ayurveda institutions, which are located in the cities of Jaipur and Jamnagar. Modi thanked the WHO for setting up a global center on traditional medicine in India.

In 2014, the Indian government created a separate ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) to promote the indigenous medical management system in the country. Since 2016, India  observed the Ayurveda Day every year.