Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem bats for medical college in Ri Bhoi

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 21: Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem has opined that Ri-Bhoi district which has been included as an ‘Aspirational District’ by the Central government is eligible to have a medical college.
He told reporters that it would be a benefit for the state to have as many medical colleges, and the proposed medical college can be established in Ri-Bhoi district, being an aspirational district

“We don’t have medical colleges in the state so far, though one medical college will come up at Tura and another in the state capital, Shillong. We shall pursue with the NITI Aayog through the state government so that a medical college in Ri-Bhoi is established with the support of the Central government,” the Nongpoh MLA said.

Syiem is also the Chairman of the Health Advisory Board. Asked about the lack of doctors and teachers who will teach in medical colleges of the state when completed, Syiem admitted that the state has to prepare by sending more people for further studies in the field of medical so that when the medical colleges are ready, they can be engaged without depending much on people from outside.

On shortage of manpower in health services and shortage of medicines in healthcare centres, Syiem said that these concerns have been there, and as the Chairman of Health Advisory Board, he would take up the matter at his level and work together with the Health Minister to address the problems.
He lauded the government for appointing doctors to serve in various hospitals and healthcare centres for the benefit of the people especially in rural health centres.

“The state government has set up a body for indent, supply, maintenance, and disposal of drugs/medicines in the state, and we will try to address the problems,” Syiem said.

The State government has decided to set up the Meghalaya Medical Drugs and Services Limited (MMDSL) to address the problems related to the non-availability of essential drugs/medicines in hospitals and health centres across the state.

Meghalaya Minister AL Hek asserts top priority to make state self-sufficient in meat production

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 11: Minister in charge of animal husbandry and veterinary A.L Hek asserted his top priority is to make Meghalaya self-sufficient in meat production.

Speaking to media persons, Hek said that the majority of the population in Meghalaya consumes meat but everyone knows there is a huge gap between supply and demand hence there is a need to come out with ways and means to make the state self-sufficient in meat production.

Hek informed that after he was appointed as minister in charge of animal husbandry and veterinary he immediately called for an informal meeting with senior officers of the department to understand the organizational structure of the department.

“In order to make Meghalaya self-sufficient in meat production, the department will need to come out with various interventions whether it is for production of pork, beef, chicken or mutton,” said Hek.

Hek said that since he is new in the department he has not yet reviewed on the implementation of the Piggery Mission but soon he will seek information from the officers to get more knowledge on how the mission works so that the state becomes self-sufficient.

He added that he does not want to comment much on the alleged cattle smuggling as he doesn’t know about the modus operandi of the cattle smuggling but he will have an in-depth discussion with all officers on the particular issue.