NEIGRIHMS spreads awareness about Alzheimer’s disease

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 5: The Department of Biochemistry at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong, India, organized a Pre-Conference CME (ACCLMPCON 2024) on “Breaking Barriers: Advancement in Alzheimer’s Disease” yesterday.

This event was held with the aim of sensitizing the medical fraternity regarding the availability of CSF-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, i.e. Beta Amyloid (Aβ42), Total Tau, and PhosphoTau, which will help in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease before the symptoms appear.

The CME was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Guest Prof. (Dr.) Nalin Mehta, Director of NEIGRIHMS Shillong. Other dignitaries present in the inaugural functions included Prof. (Dr.) Suvomoy Chakraborty, Dean (Academic) In-charge, and Prof. (Dr.) C. Daniala, MS, NEIGRIHMS Shillong.

Prof. (Dr.) Alice A. Ruram, HoD, Biochemistry, delivered the welcome address and briefly highlighted the role of Biomarkers in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Prof. (Dr.) Suvomoy Chakraborty congratulated the Department of Biochemistry for this initiative. 

Prof. (Dr.) C. Daniala mentioned the integrated role of radiology and Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Prof. (Dr.) Nalin Mehta stressed upon the need for early diagnosis and treatment of Dementia in general and Alzheimer’s disease in particular as the incidence of the same is gradually increasing in the older population. He also suggested that younger doctors should be well equipped with the knowledge of Dementia diagnosis so that they can guide the patients for proper treatment.

Delegates and resource persons from different parts of the country as well as from different disciplines of Medicine attended the event and shared their knowledge and expertise in the field of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in particular.

Govt addressing ambiguity in permanent residency certificates

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 22: Minister-in-charge of Health and Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday said the department has sought clarity from the home (political) as well as law department on the decision of some districts to issue provisional permanent residency certificates to the open category MBBS students.

Tabling a statement relating to the call attention notice of North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, Lyngdoh said, “In light of the ambiguity on the part of the district administration on the issue of permanent residency certificate, since some districts is used provisional PRC to the open category students earlier, it was decided to refer the matter to home (political) as well as law department seeking clarity on the matter.”

She said verification of 2 more candidates is awaited.

Meghalaya was initially allotted 92 seats in the current academic year and two additional seats under the central pool.

Of these 52 seats are from the central pool, 13 from RIMS Imphal, 14 from NEIGRIHMS Shillong, 3 from Tripura and 10 from Assam.

Lyngdoh said as per the residency status claimed by the candidates, respective deputy commissioners were asked to ascertain about their permanent residency status.

Reports were received from respective DCs. Based on teh DC’s report and the documents submitted, results of MBBS seat allocation were announced on August 31, 2023 and subsequently upon receipt of two additional seats under the central pool, the seat allocation was revised on September 4, 2023.

She said following representations by some civil societies, the Health & Family Welfare Department issued a notification dated September 6, 2023, staying the seating allocation of the following open category students pending re-verification of their residency status as per home (political) OM Dated June 10, 1983.

The eight open-category students include Mehbub Hassan, Monimul Ekram Mondall, Mahmudul Islam, Atida Zaman, Chiranjit Kumar Paul, Angoor Zaman Hoque, Abul Kala, Golam Mahdi Alom and Ayush Kumar.

As on September 21, the re-verification of permanent residency status for six students has been received. These include Mehbub Hassan, Md Mahmadur Islam, Atifa Zaman, Chiranjit Kumar and Angoor Zaman Hoque have presented PRC for higher education and training issued by SDO Dadenggre sub-division West Garo Hills and Ayush Kumar presented PRC issued by DC of East Jaintia Hills.

Tynsong debunks report of assault on church leaders

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said there has been no physical attack on the two church leaders from Shillong in Bihar and that they are safely returning to the state.

Speaking to media persons, Tynsong said immediately after receiving information about the incident at Patna, where Rev RG Laloo and church elder T Nongkhlaw were on a mission field visit and that some kind of argument had taken place, he had instructed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to communicate with the counterpart in Bihar to know what happened and to ensure the safety of the two church leaders.

He said immediate action was taken after information was received that the church leaders were being beaten up by a mob in Patna.

“But I am telling you nothing happened like that as per the information received and everything is fine. Ultimately all the groups went to the police station. Our intervention reached also at that point in time to the police station and now that case has been closed and it has been resolved among those people with the pastor and church elder,” Tynsong said.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed that an FIR has been filed by the two church leaders even as he reiterated that there has been no physical attack on them and that it was just a heated argument.

He informed that security has been given to the two church leaders at the airport and they are returning to the state tonight.

Expressing concern over the negative news on the incident being spread in social media, Tynsong said this may lead to communal tension in the state especially in Shillong City.

“Therefore, I would like to request all those concerned to kindly refrain from (spreading false news on social media) as the government has taken serious note of the incident. I have already spoken to the office of the chief minister and deputy chief minister in Patna and everything is fine. There is nothing to worry as both of them are returning tonight,” he said.

Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills SP Sylvester Nongtnger informed that with regard to the news circulating in social media of two church elders from Shillong being assaulted in Bihar, it may be informed that on receiving information of the same, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna and the Superintendent of Police (City) East Patna were contacted by East Khasi Hills Police and the Director General of Police, Meghalaya where it was gathered that at around 1.30 pm today, rumours had spread of some conversion going on in a house after which people had gheraoed it leading to an altercation and manhandled the occupants present therein.

He said that the police from Alamganj PS arrived there to contain the situation and escorted the two people to the thana for safe protection.

“Bihar Police had been communicated to give all the security and protection for their onward journey to Shillong and have escorted them to the airplane,” the SP said while informing that legal action has been taken by Bihar Police against the miscreants.

Cheristerfield Thangkiew’s death: Govt to first study explanation by Tactical Team – I

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the government will decide on the action after going through the explanation submitted by the Tactical Team-I, which had conducted the operation at the residence of former HNLC leader (L) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew which led to his death on August 13, 2021.

“Let the process start. Right now the department has just received the explanation (submitted by Tactical Team-I). We will go through all of it. Once that is done we will see what action will be taken,” Tynsong told reporters.

The explanation was sought by the state government after the report of the One Man Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice T Vaiphei was tabled in the Assembly’s autumn session held last year.

The report stated that the operation was well planned but poorly executed since the team was supposed to capture (L) Thangkhiew alive.

Justice T Vaiphei in his report had stated: “Therefore, my finding is that the Tactical Team-I in carrying out the operation to arrest the deceased at his residence on August 13, 2021 at about 3 AM was culpable of thoughtless and excessive use of force, which resulted in the death of the deceased, late Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, which turned out to be avoidable,” Justice Vaiphei said in his report.

“In my considered view, the post facto excuse that none but the deceased was hurt cannot be a valid justification for carrying out the operation hastily and in a reckless manner by the Tactical Team-I,” he added.

The report had said the common thread of evidence running through the statements of these state witnesses is that the objective of the operation was professed to be simply to capture the deceased alive and not to shoot at him.

That was the decision taken in the tactical meeting held prior to the operation.

“In my considered view, the operation was a well-plan, but executed poorly, recklessly, hastily and without proper application of mind,” Justice Vaiphei had said adding “In order words, it was a botched-up operation and failing in its objective of apprehending the deceased alive, who would have given valuable information to the police about the subversive activities of the proscribed HNLC outfit.”