Lays foundation stone for Mon Medical College
Union Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan laid the foundation stone of the much-awaited Mon Medical College in Mon district headquarters during a glittering function held on the occasion on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Vardhan said many good things are going to happen for the North East on different fronts in the next few years. He claimed that things were changing for the better due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said currently there were 562 medical colleges in the country, out of which 286 were in the government sector while 276 in the private sector, adding that another 175 medical colleges were also in the process of being set up.
Against 52,000 MBBS seats in 2013-14, the Union minister said there were now 84,000 seats, even as several medical commissions were being set up and around 1,50,000 health & wellness centres have been set up in India.
He lauded the efforts of healthcare workers in combating Covid-19 and said India was ahead of many developed countries in the war against the pandemic. He also explained the significance of Ayushman Bharat programme of the Central government, adding that the government aimed to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 from India and urged the State government to work to ensure the same.
Acknowledging the work of COVID warriors who risked their own lives for the safety of all, Vardhan remarked that due to their contribution, India has the highest recovery rate and the lowest death rate. He also appreciated ASHAs and urged the State government to provide full support to such grassroots field workers.
He claimed that he, along with all States’ health ministers, and the Prime Minister, along with all chief ministers, worked together with utmost diligence to tackle the pandemic. He acknowledged the State governments for tackling the crisis appropriately.
Sharing his vision on eliminating TB from the country by 2025, which is five years prior to the global goal of 2030, the minister asserted, “Despite being a big country, if we could eliminate smallpox and polio and survive COVID-19, we can definitely eliminate TB by 2025.” He urged Rio to make a commitment to eliminate TB in the State much before 2025. He also spoke about the problem of maternal mortality and urged the State government to reduce the maternal mortality rate. “Pregnancy is a boon and not a curse,” he emphasised.
Sharing his desire for India to become the first nation to achieve the goal of health for all, he appealed to the people of Mon to contribute in realising the dream of Modi for a new India by 2022 when India celebrates its 75th Independence Day.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said he was privileged to be part of this historic occasion and expressed his gratitude to Modi and Vardhan on behalf of the people of the State.
He acknowledged the presence of Vardhan for laying the foundation stone despite his busy schedule, stating that his presence exhibited Government of India’s concern and commitment for the region.
He said when Kiphire got the “Aspirational District” tag, he thought of doing something for Mon. And the opportunity came when the Prime Minister came up with the idea of setting up 75 medical colleges in regions that were earlier deprived of development in various parameters and Mon district was eligible, he added.
Rio said the Mon Medical College would not only benefit Mon and Nagaland, but also the neighbouring States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and even across the international border in Myanmar. He said the college would not only solve the problem of shortage of healthcare manpower but also provide the region with better healthcare facilities. He urged the people to make the college a centre of excellence and think of ways to attract people to work and study there.
In his speech, Lok Sabha MP, Tokheho Yepthomi mentioned that the dream of the people of Mon and Nagaland was made possible due to the dynamic leadership of Modi, Vardhan, Rio and S Pangnyu Phom. As Mon was chosen over all other districts, he urged the people of the district to fully cooperate and support the project.
Addressing the gathering, Health minister S. Pangnyu Phom remarked Nagaland never had the privilege of having two medical colleges being sanctioned by the Centre. He said establishing a medical college not only produced more manpower, but also enhance healthcare delivery.
He said the State had inherited a deplorable health sector when it was created, but over the years the sector had witnessed improvement, though much still needed to be done.
Observing that most private healthcare facilities were concentrated in Kohima and Dimapur and the rest were dependent on public healthcare, Pangnyu said due to lack of facilities and equipment in public health institutions, most people from other parts of Nagaland were not able to avail proper healthcare services. However, with the completion of Mon Medical College, he expressed confidence that healthcare delivery in the region would greatly improve.
Giving an overview of the project, principal secretary Health, Amardeep S Bhatia said the project was estimated to cost Rs 325 crore, adding that 30 acres of land had already been acquired, while contour survey and subsoil strength/geological survey had started and was likely to be completed within a month. He said the project would be on a turnkey basis and would function/operate on a PPP model.
Speeches were also delivered by representatives of Konyak Union and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, who also expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Vardhan and the State government and assured full support and cooperation towards completion of the project.
Social welfare, home guards & civil defence adviser, Noke Wangnao delivered the vote of thanks during which he appealed to the people for cooperation and support and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people of Mon to Government of India, Rio and Pangnyu for giving Mon the medical college.
Earlier, upon his arrival, Vardhan was given the Rashtriya Salute at Mon helipad, while troupes from various villages and organisations welcomed him across the entire stretch from helipad to District Hospital.
The event was also attended by Vardhan’s wife Nutan Goel, ministers, advisers, MLAs, district heads of departments, State BJP functionaries and a host of other dignitaries, including health officials, members of medical fraternity and a large number of public.
Later in the evening, Vardhan also visited Longwa village on the Indo-Myanmar border.
It may be noted that Nagaland will have two medical colleges- Kohima and Mon. However, in terms of advantages, Dimapur despite being the most viable for setting up a medical college, has been ignored.
Dimapur already has the needed infrastructure at the CIHSR (a 500-bedded hospital that was to become the first medical college of the state during the 80s.) Dimapur has air, rail and road connectivity with the rest of India. It also has over 20 modern hospitals both government and private.