The long-awaited Meghalaya Traditional Healing Clinic was inaugurated today by Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh at Pahamsyiem, Ri-Bhoi.
The clinic will seek to preserve the traditional healing practices of the Khasi people, give them a surer scientific footing and continue to heal the sick.
The clinic was funded by the Bio-Resources Development Centre (BRDC) at a cost of Rs 8 lakh and is to be managed by the Ri-Bhoi Traditional Healing Association (RBTHA).
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Umsning MLA Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Nongpoh MDC Balajied Ranee, BRDC officials, traditional healers and others.
Jasper Manih, president of the RBTHA, expressed his happiness at the inauguration of this long-awaited clinic. He emphasised that various types of treatment and healing will be provided using medicines sourced from plants with no side effects.
Manih also mentioned that the association has already started a nursery for medicinal plants and is working diligently to protect those found in the forest, ensuring accessibility for future generations.
Ampareen, the chief guest, emphasised that the inauguration of this clinic is a significant moment for traditional healers. She stressed the need to revive these traditional healing practices in the state, especially as some people, particularly in urban areas, tend to forget them and only consult allopathic doctors.
Furthermore, Ampareen highlighted Meghalaya’s abundance of different types of medicinal plants and the necessity for certification, recognition, and standardised operating procedures with good hygiene for these healing practices. She underscored that this ancient knowledge, passed down from our forefathers, should not be forgotten but instead revived and preserved, as it possesses unique insights for curing various diseases.
