Shillong, July 29: For the first time in Meghalaya a training program on Malaria Control was initiated and conducted for members of Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices (SPIKAP), who are traditional private health care service providers comprising of traditional village healers, bone setters, and birth attendants, conducted by Caritas India, Futures Group International India Pvt. Ltd, SPIKAP and officials incharge of Malaria Control, of the Department of Health, Govt of Meghalaya.
The training was held for 22 healers on 23rd July 2013 and again for 22 healers on 29th July 2013, at St Michael Hr Sec School – Hall, under Umsning C&RD Block, Ri Bhoi District.
The members of SPIKAP expressed their gratitude to the officials that such a program has been conducted for a total of 44 comprising of healers , birth attendants and bone setters, who had come from 18 villagers from far flung areas most of whom were far from the PHC or CHC.
During the training program, in addition to the presentations from Doctors and officials of Health Dept. Govt of Meghalaya, from Futures Group International India Pvt. Ltd, and from SPIKAP, the training program was also addressed by Bah John F Kharshiing, Co—Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, bad Chairman, SPIKAP, who stated that this was a unique Public Private Partnership and initiatve which will complement the Health services in the remote rural areas and look forward to the Government and NGO initiative in value adding and capacitating the informal health care providers in Meghalaya.(SP News)
