Nongstoiñ MLA Gabriel Wahlang has slammed the State government for taking an ‘irrational’ step by shifting medical equipments meant for the 50-Bedded Maternity & Child Hospital (MCH) in West Khasi Hills to Mawkyrwat Civil Hospital in South West Khasi Hills.
The Health department on May 23 had reportedly diverted medical equipments to Mawkyrwat, which was sanctioned for the Nongstoiñ MCH in November 2022.
Ahead of the decision to shift the medical equipment, Wahlang had already objected to the proposal in a letter to Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on May 18, 2023 even as he had questioned on the delay in making the hospital operation when it was completed since 2018.
Wahlang said that the hospital is a blessing for the people of the district as the nearest MCH Hospital for the people of Nongstoiñ is 100 kms way at Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong.
“Equipments were bought keeping in mind the requirements of an MCH Hospital and not for a Civil Hospital. As an elected representative of my district it is my duty to look into these discrepancies and such irrational steps should not have been taken which compromises the Maternal and Child Health of the people of Nongstoiñ,” Wahlang had said in the letter.
The decision came as a shock for the people of West Khasi Hills who felt that the government had exhibited step-motherly attitude to the people of the district.
Meanwhile, members of various pressure groups (KSU, WKSU, UHM, MYF, WYF and HANM) visited the hospital today and served a week time for the government to explain and clarify on the reasons for shifting the already sanctioned medical equipments and items meant for the hospital.
