Village heads oppose Govt move to outsource health centres

SHILLONG: The State Government’s move to outsource the CHC Nongtalang and PHC Jarain (both in West Jaintia Hills) to NGOs has been met with resistance from villagers from the area, who, under conglomerate of village heads, met Health Minister AL Hek on Friday to express their opposition to the decision.
The delegation of village heads from Nongtalang and Jarain was led by Independent MLA, Stephenson Mukhim, and Congress MDC, H. Lamin.
While addressing media persons after meeting Hek, general secretary, Nongtalang village, D Myrchiang said that the secretary, ad hoc committee of 14 villages, has decided to place the health centres under lock and key if the Government went against the wishes of the people residing there.
“In a village meeting yesterday (Thursday), the village heads unanimously decided to oppose the move of the Government to outsource the CHC Nongtalang and PHC Jarain to some NGOs. The Government should run the health centres by itself as we are satisfied with the services provided by it. Though it needs improvement, it has still served the needy and the poor sections well,” Myrchiang said.
Meanwhile, during their meeting with the Health Minister, the latter informed that the charge of the health centres would be given to “dedicated NGOs” and a meeting will be held to sensitize people on the issue.
The village heads, however, refused the condition and reiterated their opposition to outsourcing of the health centres.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, Hek confirmed that the Government intended to outsource some PHCs and CHCs.
“In centres with lack of manpower in terms of specialists, health workers etc., the government intends to rope in professional NGOs to provide better service to people,” he said.
He also said that awareness programmes will be held to inform the public about the benefits of the outsourcing.
Meanwhile, to press their point, K. Tariang, secretary of Jarain village cited the alleged case of a health centre at Umkiang where the NGOs were not doing a satisfactory job.