Shillong, Nov 24: As part of the ongoing training program in various parts of Meghalaya, more than 35 selected traditional private health care service providers in Umroi area, Ri-Bhoi District, comprising of traditional village healers and birth attendants from 13 villages, Nongrim Nongladap, Umdohthli, Mawbri, Liarbang, Bhoirymbong, Mawiambei, Kyrdem, Umroi Laban, Mawkyrdep, Khlieh-Umstem, Mynri-Umsning, Umket, and Mawnoh Synrum, members of SPIKAP, Meghalaya they were imparted training on the dreaded Malaria and how on preventive steps necessary to control the spread of Malaria in a one day training awarness, arranged by Futures Group International India Pvt Ltd, (Caritas-India), in collaboration with – ( Dept of Health- Malaria) Govt of Meghalaya and the Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices (SPIKAP), from 9.30 am up to 3 pm, on 23, November, 2013, in the Dorbar Hall, Lumdaitkhla, Bhoirymbong. Umroi Area.
The healers expressed their keen interest in collaborating with the Health Dept, in the areas of health care for the benefit of the people in the remote rural areas, especially on the issue of Malaria which is still prevalent in the Ri-Bhoi areas.
During the open session the healers expressed their anguish as to the scarcity of valuable herbs largely due to increase in population and the human activities, and hoped that the village chiefs to discuss this matter at the village level.
During the open session of the training program, while addressing the traditional indigenous village healers of umroi area, Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, & Chairman, (SPIKAP) Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices, thanked the NGO and the Health Dept for coming forward in such an innovative engagement with the formal and informal health care practitioners, and stated that there is urgent need for the Village Chiefs to discuss availability of herbs in the Village Dorbar Shnong, and to have interactions with the traditional village healers, bone setters and birth attendants who compliment health care in the rural areas.
There is urgent need for the Government to enhance support for natural herbal nursery and plantation around the village forest, clan forest, sacred forest, private forest and community forest, in view of the report of scarcity of the medicinal herbs faced by the traditional healers in Umroi Area. Steps must be taken now less they become extinct and unavailable for future generations. (SP News)
