Shillong, July 17: The A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has once against raised its voice to demand for relocating the Maternity and Child Hospital (M&CH) to Ampati in South West Garo Hills (SWGH).
In a press statement, AHAM’s general secretary for South Western Zone, Wester G Sangma said the current location of M&CH suffers from many problems, such as, shortage of population, flood prone area, near to international borders, and is extremely far from the Ampati Civil hospital and District Medical Health Office.
The M&CH is set to come-up in Mahendraganj, which is 32 kms away from Ampati. Dr Mukul Sangma had laid the foundation stone for the M&CH at Mahendraganj on November 27, 2017 when he was the Chief Minister.
Sangma said AHAM had submitted a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on 21 October, 2020 with the signatures of 27 A’king Nokmas (Garo Village headmen) and discussed the matter with him again on 1st April 2021 to relocate the hospital to Ampati at the nearest Civil Hospital.
He said if the hospital comes up in Ampati, it will give equal access to everyone, especially during emergencies.
SWGH has a population of 1,83,560 in 470 villages with nine PHCs, two CHCs and one civil hospital.
Of this population, he said only 30 percent are demanding Maternity and Child Hospital at Mahendraganj whereas 80 percent of people covered by Ampati Civil Hospital will be affected.
He urged the government to look into the demand as it is based on population ratio and “we need good, equally accessible services to citizens”.
He also demanded that such district development projects must be set up nearest to the district headquarters.
