Union minister of state (MoS) for home Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the upgraded Kiphire district hospital here on Friday.
Speaking at the inauguration, Rijiju remarked that November 9 was a red letter day for Kiphire district to have hosted a full-fledged cabinet meeting, besides inauguration of the upgraded hospital. Congratulating the people of Kiphire, Rijiju hoped the hospital would provide better healthcare and urged them not only to fully utilise the upgraded facilities and infrastructure, but also take ownership of it.
He asserted that Kiphire would very soon see the beacon of development
Mentioning that nearly 90% of health issues were due to lifestyle, the MoS asked the people to stay healthy by consuming healthy food.
He maintained that hilly people were gifted with good health in comparison with their counterparts in plain areas. He, however, observed that some food habits of the hill people were unhealthy and called upon them to inculcate good food habits.
Describing eastern India as one of the most economically potential areas of the country, Rijiju said Nagas were free people and had no class, caste and subject and king system. He asked the gathering to work hard, while also appealing to the people of Kiphire district to preserve government property as their own. He expressed happiness and congratulated the people and the State for the new hospital building.
The MoS also unveiled the inaugural plaque of the district hospital.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who was present on the occasion, thanked Rijiju for accepting the invitation to attend the cabinet meeting at Kiphire. He also congratulated the health department, particularly doctors and nurses, for the new building.
“People of Kiphire will have access to better healthcare with upgraded facilities and infrastructure,” he stressed.
He also lauded Rijiju for agreeing to come to “one of the most far-flung areas” of Nagaland for the occasion, while advising people of the district to take timely care of their health.
Commenting that many ailments were a result of “our own carelessness”, the chief minister asked the people to take proper care of their health. He further appealed to the gathering to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to undertake various activities.
Speaking on the occasion, state soil & water conservation and geology mining minister Kashiho Sangtam thanked Rio and Rijiju for holding the first ever cabinet meeting in the district. He observed that with this meeting more development would come about in Kiphire, bringing it on a par with other advanced districts.
State health & family welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom, who too attended the inauguration, thanked the government for the new hospital building.
AYUSH doctor Dr L Sunep and nurse Noklentula Sangtam were awarded on the occasion with appreciation certificates for their sincerity.
The programme was chaired by H&FW principal secretary I Himato Zhimomi, while vote of thanks was given by &FW principal director Dr Vikeyie Losu.
Meanwhile, a cultural reception was held in the evening in honour of Rijiju at the 14 IRB camp. During the programme, Rijiju gave away the award for “Clean Election” to Langzanger village.