Shillong, Oct. 11: Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma on wednesday laid the Foundation Stone for 50 Bedded Maternity & Child Hospital at Umniangbyrnai Parila, Umsning in the presence of Minister, Health, Roshan Warjri, Minister, PHE, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh and Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism etc Kennedy C Khyriem.

Speaking to the gathering, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma expressing happiness at being able to respond to the need of the area said that an important milestone has been achieved in the crucial Health sector. He said that though the state still faces challenges as all developing states the government is focused in taking care of all sections of the society specially the vulnerable group, the under privileged, the women and the children. “The government has initiated a number of programmes to address the issues of development disparities,” he said while highlighting the flagships programmes of the state.

Dr Sangma also said that though many precious lives have been lost in the past due to bad roads, all weather roads have been developed in the state though convergence and aggregating resources for better access to livelihood opportunities and Health facilities. “The hospital will reduce Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality rate in the area which is quiet high in the district,” he added.
The Chief Minister further said that mothers still continue to suffer by neglecting her health and added that the whole approach to health care needs to be changed. He said that the practice of visiting a doctor or a hospital only when one is ill has to be done away with and urged all especially women and mothers to have a regular health monitoring and check up. He also urged the Health department to work upon very comprehensive and practical measures so that preventive medicine and care can be given in new and innovative ways.
The Maternity and Child Hospital is a project of total Rs 14 crores and Rs 4.5 crores has been sanctioned. The hospital in Umniangbrynai, Parila will spread over an area of four acres.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Multi Facility Centre and urged the residents of the area to use the building for various skill building, entrepreneurial, coaching and training activities. An amount of Rs 40 lakhs was sanctioned for the Multi Facility hall by the Department of Arts and Culture.
PWD village road of 2 kms for Umniangbrynai which had been completed was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister during the occasion and Dr Sangma announced that funds for another 10 kms village road has been sanctioned taking up the total to 12 kms village road. (I&PR)