CHC to ngos opposed

SHILLONG, APR 1: Headmen from several villages in War Jaintia threatened to close-down two health centres in the region to protest against the government’s move to hand them over to ngos.  According to them, the ngos run health centres have allegedly failed to provide quality health care facilities to the people in neighbouring villages.

A delegation of 14 headmen led by the MLA and MDC from the area – Stephanson Mukhim and Holando Lamin met health minister AL Hek to seek his intervention into the matter. These are the villages falling under the Nongtalang Community Health Centre (CHC) and Jarain Public Health Centre (PHC).

“We have expressed our strong opposition to such move by the government to handover the Nongtalang CHC and Jarain PHC to NGOs,” Adhoc Committee of 14 villages – general secretary D Myrshiang said.

He also said if the state government fails to listen to their appeal, the village headmen will be compelled to close-down the two health centres.

When asked, Myrshiang said, “The protest is in view of the fact that the functioning two health centres which are presently run by the government have benefited the people of the area.” Stating that the performance of these health centres are satisfactory despite shortcomings like lack of manpower, he however said, “We welcome and are open for improvement in the interest of the public.”

Maintaining that the move to handover the centres to ngos will not be accepted, Myrshiang said, “It is found that the functioning of the CHC at Umkiang which is run by the NGO is not upto the mark which has irked the people from the area.”

Speaking to reporters, Hek admitted that the state government is contemplating to outsource some of the CHCs and PHCs especially those facing problems like shortage of manpower (doctors/specialist/staffs) to NGOs.

He however said the government is yet to identify which are the CHCs and PHCs to be handed over to the NGOs.  “We have just started the preliminary process for identifying such health centres,” Hek said while informing that the objective is to enhance the capacity and delivery system to ensure quality health care for all.

According to him, the government is ensuring that the centres are handed over to professional NGOs for better services.

While stating the government will soon float expression of interest (EOI), the minister however said that public meeting will also be held to take the public views on the matter.-By Our Reporter