Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that the State will see construction of about 300 new health sub-centres in the next three years.
He said a budget of Rs 165 crore has been earmarked for the construction of these new health sub-centres.
“With an objective to upscale rural health infrastructure across the State, the government has conceptualised rural health strengthening project to ensure that rural health facilities are given a facelift”, the chief minister said at the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new sub-centre at Chambagre under Selsella block in West Garo Hills district.
He said the sub centre is being constructed with the concept of sustainable, disaster resilient and integrated with clean energy and executed by the Government of Meghalaya in partnership with SELCO Foundation and Saura Mandala.
The Chief Minister said that these new health centres will be state of the art, employing new models and technology in its implementation and operation. In order to strengthen healthcare at the grassroots the government is empowering the local communities through the village health councils, he added.
Further, he informed that under Meghalaya Health Infrastructure Strengthening Project Rs 350 crore has been earmarked for upgradation of PHCs and CHCs in the State.
He said that work on the 280 core PA Sangma Medical Skill Hunar Hub has been started at Dumindikgre near Babadam to address the need of trained manpower in the health centres. Apart from addressing the shortage of trained medical personnel to man the facilities in the rural areas it will open up employment opportunities for the youth, he said.