Shillong, Jun 8: Health Minister, A L Hek on Monday assured the Khasi Students Union (KSU) Mawkynrew Circle to retain Dr A K Nongbri as Medical Officer in-charge Jongksha PHC.

The MInister gave this assurance to a delegation of KSU Mawkynrew Circle who met him and demanded to stay the transfer order of Dr Nongbri under Mawkynrew block in East Khasi Hills district.

“We requested the state government through you to reconsider any decision…by immediately staying the transfer order of Dr AK Nongbri (who has been serving in the PHC for almost 2 years now),” KSU Mawkynrew Circle president, Elas Umsong said in a letter submitted to the Hek.

Umsong said that transferring the doctor from the PHC at this juncture is not at all in the interest of the people of the area and such a move cannot be welcomed by all concerns.

“During his short stint, Dr Nongbri has brought in a lot of positive changes in the PHC which has in turn benefitted the community as far as health care is concerned. Jongksha PHC has been functioning for almost 25 years now and has seen a number of doctors posted over the years. However none of these Doctors prior to Dr. Nongbri, has the will and vision to uplift the PHC and enable it to function as expected,” Umsong said.

Umsong said that in the past years, people of the area have to travel to Smit for availing health care instead of Jongksha PHC

“But now under the leadership of Dr Nongbri, people have started showing confidence and hope in the PHC, and many people from other villages outside Jongksha PHC too have started availing the health care services of this PHC,” the KSU leader said.