Shillong: The newly constructed 50-bedded Maternity and Child Hospital at the old Civil Hospital complex, Tura was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul M. Sangma in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister i/c Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Augustine D. Marak and other dignitaries on June 12, 2010 at Tura.The Hospital, which is the first of its kind in Garo Hills and second in the State, was constructed at a cost of over Rs. 9 crore and would cater exclusively for women and children, particularly, the reproductive health of women and immunization of children. Initially, the hospital would function only with the OPD, but the indoor wards would also start functioning soon.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mukul said that the hospital was the outcome of the project conceived at the DPDC meeting. He, however, admitted that there were some anomalies in the construction and certain facilities were yet to be in place in order to make it functional to the optimum level. He therefore said that there should be proper coordination while planning important projects like this.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sanjay Goyal had, on behalf of the district Health department requested the Chief Minister to provide the required man-power to run the hospital to its fullest capacity, to which Dr. Sangma assured that necessary steps would be taken to make it fully functional without further delay. He however, spoke about the constraints of getting doctors with PG degree, but added that the government is trying its best to ensure that all doctors get capacity building trainings. Dr. Sangma also stressed on the need to build up man-power as health sector was one of the largest job providers in the State. As such, he informed that the government was planning to set up two Medical colleges in the State, one in Shillong to be run on a PPP mode and the other one would be somewhere near Tura. He also said that First Referral Units (FRUs) for treatment of cancer would be started in the State sometime in the month of July. Reiterating the need to have some kind of mechanism to coordinate PHCs, CHCs and Referral centres while referring patients to hospitals, Dr. Sangma said if need arises, the government is willing to sanction one or more posts just to address the problem in the referral centres.
Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh, while congratulating his department for the achievement, expressed hope that the hospital would provide effective health delivery system for the people of Garo Hills and help to overcome one of the three enemies diseases, illiteracy and poverty, which the State had been fighting for a long time.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Augustine Marak in his brief address said that the success of a hospital would depend on how it was managed and also called upon the doctors and medical staff to maintain minimum human courtesy while giving their service to the people.
The inaugural programme was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sanjay Goyal, while the Director of Health Services, Shillong Dr. A S. Kynjing gave the welcome address and the Superintendent, Maternity & Child Hospital , Tura Dr.(Mrs.) A. K. Marak proposed the vote of thanks.(MIPR)