SHILLONG, Nov 30: Nearing almost 50 years of statehood, access and availability to proper medical care facilities is still felt wanting particularly in rural areas of Meghalaya.
In this line, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), West Khasi Hills District Unit, met Health Minister AL Hek and submitted a memorandum listing out the immediate focus areas for upgradation of health infrastructure to enable the people of the district access to healthcare.
Stating that Langpih area bordering Assam deserves a proper health centre to cater to the needs of the villagers, the KSU demanded the setting up of a Sub-Centre at Langpih and Nongkhnum.
The other listed demands include upgradation of Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kynshi, Myriaw, Pariong and Markasa to a single combined community health centre in Mawthadraishan Block, besides, extension of bed and infrastructure facilities at Maweit,Nonglang, Shallang and Rambrai PHCs.
The KSU also requested the health minister to sanction posts for speedy commencement of the nursing college as well as immediate appointment of the Maternal and Child Health Officer in West Khasi Hills.
Pointing out that the construction of Laitdom and Mawlangkhar sub-centre under Mairang and Mawthadraishan Block is completed, but are non-functional, the KSU urged Hek to make it operational.
The KSU complained that the District Hospital at Nongstoin is not up to the expectation in terms of availability, accessibility and quality, and that the staff strength, equipment supply, service availability and population coverage is not uniform. Other demands of the Union included the appointment of a radiologist or sinologist, making the ICU, operation theatre and wards with central oxygen lines operational, endoscopy and laparoscopy equipment to be installed, the appointment of a pathologist for the blood bank, and extension and sanction of additional buildings for the construction of the administrative block-cum-outdoor patient department.
Hek, who is also in charge of Arts and Culture department, was urged by the Union to sanction the auditorium-cum-library which was estimated in 2017 for construction at the Deputy Commissioner’s Complex in Nongstoin under the Arts & Culture department.