Shillong, Sept 30: Health and Family Welfare Minister, James PK Sangma has remarked that the world has learnt the importance of health and health infrastructure the hard way with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister on Thursday inspected the functioning and working conditions of various healthcare centres across the state. The objective of the visit was to identify areas of immediate improvement and gaps which require the department’s attention.
As the pandemic brought of fore the poor health infrastructure in the sub-urban and rural areas across Meghalaya, which put tremendous pressure on the health infrastructure in Shillong, the Health Minister said the government is doing its best to ensure that the citizens of the state are provided with accessible healthcare where nobody is left out.
“Health is a very key concern when it comes to the social welfare of any state. This is a lesson that the world learnt the hard way during the COVID pandemic. Therefore, there has to be an extensive focus on building the health infrastructure of the state,” Sangma said.
Visit to Mawsynram
The Minister visited various locations in and around the Mawsynram Block and during his visit, he was accompanied by Alvin Sawkmie, MDC of Mawsynram constituency, along with NPP’s Mawsynram Block President, B S Nongrem and members of the National People’s Party (NPP), Mawsynram Block.
He was informed of the unavailability of medical officers and emergency services at the PHC in Mawsynram. Noting the various issues, he assured the citizens and the members of the respective units that the Health Department and the State Government will take necessary steps to resolve the issues at the earliest.
Inspected Mawsynram block along with Sh. Alvin Sawkmie MDC,Mawsynram, Sh. B S Nongrem, Block President & NPP members.Also met members of Sawsymper & Dangar units who submitted memorandums for upgradation from sub center to PHC & revamping of PHC & upgradation to CHC respectively. pic.twitter.com/8qoruWqECv
— James K Sangma (@JamesSangma1) September 30, 2021
Upgradation of health centres
During the inspection, the Minister also met the members of NPP’s Sawsymper unit who submitted a memorandum requesting the upgradation of Sawsymper health sub-centre to a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC). Members of NPP’s Dangar unit also submitted a memorandum to him for upgrading the Dangar PHC to a Community Healthcare Centre (CHC).
“I have received requests from NPP workers of Sawsymper and Dangar units to look into the upgradation of infrastructure, which will allow catering to many more people. The requests are of genuine importance and as a department, we will look into it as soon as possible,” Sangma said.
Inspection of construction work on Lawbah PHC
The Minister also visited Lawbah PHC site on the same day to inspect the progress of work. While expressing his satisfaction on the completion of the civil work on the proposed site, he said that operation of the PHC will begin soon and will cater to the needs of the people of the area.
Sangma also visited the Ryngku PHC to inspect functional concerns and assured that he will apprise the department to work on any concerns that may currently be a hindrance to the day-to-day functioning.
