Shillong, May 2: Health Minister AL Hek on Thursday celebrated his 56th birthday with TB patients at the Reid Chest Hospital in Shillong.

“I came here to celebrate my birthday not as a health minister but as an ordinary person,” Hek said in his short speech.

The minister said in the previous years, he had 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 that helping others is like serving God,” Hek said.

He thanked the hospital authority for granting him the permission to organise the function.

Later, the Minister cut the birthday cake in the presence of his wife, Congress legislator from Shillong West constituency, Mohendro Rapsang, doctors and staff of the hospital.

On the occasion, fruits and blankets donated by the CR Project were also distributed to the patients.