TURA: A Mini Health Mela organized by the District Health Society, West Garo Hills was held today at Rimrangpara Secondary School Playground, Rimrangpara under Allagre Community and Health Centre which falls under Dalu Community and Rural Development Block.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh lauded the efforts of the health department for organizing such programmes and the staff for attending the health mela for the welfare of the people of the region since the area lacks various basic facilities being in the remote corner of the district. Further, he expressed his unhappiness for the poor road connectivity and network problem in the area and assured that he would personally look after these issues in future.
Moreover, he said that normally people in the villages are healthy in nature and do not have lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetic, etc but there are cases with regard to nutrition factor and informed that about 70 per cent of women in the district are aenemic. Therefore, he urged to focus on the nutrition of women as well as to promote the education of a girl child in the region so as to minimize anemia by preventing early marriage and teenage pregnancies. Stating that consuming tobacco and tobacco products and alcohol are harmful for person’s health, he advised the people to avoid these and urged everyone to utilize the opportunity provided to them in this mela.
The Deputy Commissioner also lauded the efforts of Rev Fr. Alex of St Mathew’s Church, Rimrangpara for uplifting the education sector in the region and also urged to open higher secondary and degree colleges in future for the benefit of the people in the region.
In her keynote address, District Maternity and Child Hospital Officer, West Garo Hills, Dr Ivonne M Sangma informed that the Health Mela was sponsored by the Government of India to provide health care facilities to the people and added that there are different medical specialist present at the mela and urged them to take advantage from such programmes. Moreover, she also requested the people to attend monthly Fixed Health Day Sessions so that they are aware of various schemes implemented in the district and also to avail the vaccinations provided by the government so that they are free from diseases and stay fit and healthy.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Block Development Officer, Dalu C & RD Block, West Garo Hills, Tengchi M G Momin, District Medical and Health Officer, West Garo Hills, Dr. M R Sangma, Dr. Mark Gillian M Sangma, Medical Officer, incharge Allagre CHC and Dr Sengjan Marak, Senior Medical Officer, Tura.
During the Health Mela, Medical Officer, Yoga and Naturopathy Dr. Sambu Aryal also demonstrated Yoga and also informed the gathering about the importance of practicing yoga in our lives which he stated that yoga is an art and science where a person’s physical health and mind can be maintained fit and healthy by improving cognitive functions and control stress.
A team of Medical specialist comprising of Pediatrician, Ophthalmologist, Psychiatry, Medical Surgeon, Medicine, Diabetics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dermatology, Dental Care including RNTCP and Malaria from Tura Civil Hospital were present at the health mela. About 500 people of the area have registered their names for health check up during the health mela.