Shillong, April 7, 2026: The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) observed World Health Day as part of its ongoing Swachhata Pakhwada campaign, organising a series of activities aimed at promoting health awareness, hygiene, and community engagement.
To commemorate the occasion, NEIGRIHMS hosted a poster competition based on the theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science.” The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 25 individuals, including medical and nursing students, staff members, and families of employees, who creatively expressed their perspectives on health and science through art.
Extending its outreach beyond the campus, NEIGRIHMS conducted a health camp at St. George School Nongmynsong, targeting students between 12 and 16 years of age. Nearly 100 students from Classes IX and X attended the session. During the programme, doctors addressed key topics such as the importance of the One Health approach—balancing plant, animal, and human health—the role of science in public health, benefits of physical activity and balanced diets, risks associated with junk food, managing screen time, and awareness about HPV vaccination.
The institute is observing Swachhata Pakhwada from April 1 to 15, a nationwide cleanliness drive under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The fortnight-long initiative includes activities such as Swachhata Pledge ceremonies, campus and hospital cleaning drives, health camps, conferences, and community awareness programmes to promote hygiene and sanitation.
Earlier, during the Swachhata Pledge ceremony, NEIGRIHMS Director Prof. Nalin Mehta lauded the collective efforts of the institute’s faculty, staff, students, and sanitation workers in fostering a culture of cleanliness. He emphasised that Swachhata Pakhwada serves as a crucial reminder of shared responsibility towards maintaining hygiene and ensuring a healthy environment.
Prof. Mehta also expressed confidence that sustained awareness initiatives targeting not only staff but also patients, visitors, and school children would help reduce infection rates, support faster patient recovery, and encourage healthier lifestyles within the community.
