Meghalaya Govt to look into setting up of a full-fledged cancer hospital

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state government will definitely explore the possibility of setting up a full-fledged cancer hospital.

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“Definitely if the need arises and based on the financial and other aspects involved, we will explore the idea of even having a full-fledged hospital if necessary,” Sangma told reporters after presenting the state budget. He however informed that the government is intending to expand and augment the cancer wing and its overall capacity and services.

Stating that it is not just about the treatment, the chief minister said, “It has a lot to do with screening and early detection and prevention. Therefore, Meghalaya in fact is going for a holistic approach to all of this. We are looking at doing a massive amount of screenings so that early detection can be done and lives can be saved.”

Earlier in his budget speech, Sangma said the 90-bedded cancer wing in the Shillong civil hospital was made functional this financial year. The radio oncology system will also be set up by the end of 2023 to further augment our capacity in the fight against cancer.

He further announced that the government will also set up a cancer wing in Tura civil hospital.

The Chief Minister also informed that the government is comprehensively upgrading the physical infrastructure of all the health facilities starting from the state headquarters till the sub-centres.

The Mother and Child Hospital at Jowai and a 100-bedded hospital in Mawkyrwat have been established, he said while adding that the construction of 19 new health facilities is at different stages of completion.

He further added that the 100-bedded integrated health complex at Baljek, West Garo Hills will be completed by 2024 while the 50-bedded ‘Tura Maternity and Child hospital’ will be expanded to 100 beds during 2023-24.

He said that the construction of 78 new sub-centres will be completed by the end of 2023 at a cost of about Rs 43 crore. Additionally, the government will also set up 31 new urban health centres during the next financial year.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to upgrade 20 out of the existing 31 community health centres as first referral units during 2023-24.

“To further strengthen these centres, we are training groups of doctors and medical professionals,” Sangma added.

Upscaling Hobby to Business- the story of Harador Khariong’s Plant Parenthood

“If done with full commitment and passion whether it’s art, science or music, one can achieve their goal to make things work better and the satisfaction you will get is beyond your imagination”— Harador Khariong, Founder-Plant Parenthood

For Harador Khariong, a resident of Wahingdoh Shillong, East Khasi Hills Meghalaya, Plant Parenthood started as a hobby and out of love for plants during her college days. This eventually became more interesting and turned to be a career option in planting in the year 2020, especially succulents because they were relatively easier to take care of.

It was during the Northeast Food Show 2022 that Harador saw few entrepreneurs with their stall under the umbrella of PRIME, after which she learned in detail about PRIME and how it has helped entrepreneurs succeed in their business. Therefore, in the same year she enrolled herself in the Pre – Incubation batch 3.

Through the PRIME’s Pre-Incubation program, she learned more about upscaling her business and ultimately launched the ‘Plant Parenthood’ initiative.

This article has been featured in collaboration with PRIME Entrepreneurship Meghalaya. To know more about PRIME, visit: https://www.primemeghalaya.com/