SHILLONG: In what can be termed as a humble gesture, the Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek celebrated his 56th birthday with the patients of Reid Chest Hospital, Shillong on Thursday.
In his short speech to the patients, Hek said that he came to celebrate his birthday not as health minister but as an ordinary person.
The minister said in the previous years, he also had the privilege of sharing his birthday with leprosy patients and beggars.
“This year I thought why not with tuberculosis patients where I want to tell them that we are with them and they are not alone. I always believe helping others is like serving God,” Hek added.
Later, the minister was flanked by patients while cutting the cake in presence of his wife A Nongsiej, Congress legislator from West Shillong Mohendro Rapsang, doctors and staff of the hospital.
Fruits and blankets donated by CR Project were also distributed among the patients.
