Shillong, October 3: The Khasi Student Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills District (SWKHD) on Monday sought the intervention of Health Minister Roshan Warjri to immediately speed up the process to operationalize the Public Health Centre (PHC) located at Wahkaji.
The Wahkaji PHC constructed in the early 90’s, is in a dilapidated condition has become a shelter for animals instead of extending health services to the villages falling under the area.
The Union had in the past apprise the former Health Minister A L Hek regarding the PHC, who had assured them that he will conduct an inspection of the PHC himself and ensure that it becomes functional at the earliest.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Health Minister, T Lyngdoh general secretary KSU SWKHD said, that the PHC is still lying non-functional for the past several years despite the fact that the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) had handed over the PHC to the government.
He however informed that the Minister had assured the Union members that the matter will be taken up seriously and that she will also examines everything the department has done to speed up the process in getting the PHC functional.
Stating that the PHC was only functional when UCIL took over the health centre from the state government, he said, “This clearly shows that the UCIL only wants to bring in development if they get to mine uranium however because of protest from several NGOs and opposition from the people against the move to mine uranium, UCIL took the decision to leave the area.”
Informing that the PHC is now handed over to the state government from UCIL, he said, “The former Health Minister had assigned the DHSMI Medical Institution to look into the matter to which from their side they have inspected the PHC and prepared a plan to restore the PHC however it still needs approval from other departments to get the all clear for getting it operationalize.”
Meanwhile, Marconi Thongni president KSU Ranikor Circle said, “If the state government keeps on delaying in getting the PHC functional then the Union will have to call a meeting to deliberate on its future course of action.”
Highlighting the difficulties faced by residents of the area due to the non-function of the PHC, he said, “In the absence of the health centre patients have to travel 2-3 hours to get medical assistance in Mawkyrwat or travel 148 Km to Shillong.
