AHAM opposes relocation of M&CH to Mahendraganj

TURA

The Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), South-Western zone, has opposed the state government’s decision to move the Maternity and Child Hospital (M&CH) to the border town of Mahendraganj from Ampati in South West Garo Hills (SWGH).

According to AHAM, a monetary grant was earlier sanctioned for the setting up of the M&CH in Ampati, but the state government began surveying the land in Mahendraganj instead.

“The place is close to the border, is flood prone and very far away from Ampati (32 km). This distance will cause problems for patients, staff and technical assistants as it is very far from the Ampati Civil Hospital and office of the DMHO,” AHAM general secretary Wester Sangma said in a press release.

SWGH has a population of 1,83,560 in 470 villages with nine PHCs, two CHCs and one civil hospital.

Sangma stated that about 80 per cent of the population in places under Mellim PHC, Garobadha, Rangsakona and Belbari would be affected because of the extreme distances.

“Ampati is the centre point and as such the M&CH must be set up here or nearby for patients to be able to access the facilities during emergencies. The administration of the M&CH can be looked after by the Civil Hospital and the DMHO in Ampati. Otherwise, the distance is going to cause extreme burdens,” he said.

The AHAM general secretary also informed that they submitted a complaint to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma through the DC of SWGH on October 21.

“We urge the CM to look into this immediately. We demand the setting up of the MCH at the nearest Civil Hospital as per the norms of the medical department. There is plenty of land for its construction,” stated the AHAM press release.

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