SHILLONG:
The state assembly during the ongoing budget session on Thursday took up the issue of improving health infrastructure in the state.
Replying to a query during the Question Hour, Cabinet minister, Lahkmen Rymbui said that the government is proposing to improve infrastructures in 336 health facilities across the state.
Rymbui said that to meet this intervention of the government the finance will come from the Meghalaya Health System Trading Project, which is an externally aided project by World Bank, from the National Health Mission, the Prime Minister Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the 15th Finance Commission and the state resources.
“These will meet the purpose of upgrading the infrastructures of these 336 health facilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, East Shillong legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh who took up the upgradation of the Urban Public Health Centre (UPGC) at Demseiniong said that the health facility there provides a long list of services.
“…but it is unfortunate that the centre has not been upgraded,” she added.
Lyngdoh also took up the matter of the UPHC at Demseiniong functioning from a rented accommodation even as she asked whether this health facility will in the future be included along with the list of 336 proposed by the state.
Lyngdoh also informed the House that the government has several lands in the area near the UPHC and in 2018 there was an effort to upgrade the particular facility.
Rymbui said that identification of land for an Urban Health Centre is under process.
Mawsynram MLA Himalaya Shangpliang urged the government to consider upgrading the PHC at Dangar to an CHC so that border residents do not have to come to Shillong for treatment.
Earlier, Rymbui informed the House that the UPHC at Demseiniong covers 18 localities and a population of 18672.
He also informed that the services provided at this particular UPHC are maternal health, family welfare, child health and nutrition, respiratory tract infection/sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), nutrition deficiency disorders, vector borne diseases, mental health, oral health, chest infections TB/asthma, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, trauma care (burns and injuries), IEC/BCC, counselling, UHNDs (Urban Health Nutrition Days) and Special Outreach Camps.