Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 304/21

CHIEF MINISTER INAUGURATES THE NEW DISTRICT OF EASTERN WEST KHASI HILLS ON 10.11.2021

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in the presence of Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh and other cabinet ministers and MLAs inaugurated the new district of ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’, which was bifurcated from its parent district of West Khasi Hills. The new district comprises of Mairang and Mawthadraishan C&RD blocks respectively. Mairang is one of the oldest civil sub-divisions, which was inaugurated on November 10, 1976 and exactly after 45 years, it was upgraded to a new district. The new district will be headquartered at Mairang.

Inaugurating the new district of ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’ amidst a festive mood in Mairang, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the new district will bring administration closer to the people.He said that the new district was a long felt aspiration and desire of the people and government had to consider it after screening different parameters. He also told the gathering about his visit to Mairang as an opposition leader, where people had spelt out on the need for creation of a new district. “The new district was created not because it is in Khasi Hills or Jaintia Hills or Garo Hills but purely on basis of certain parameters, which had put the region in the bottom list of all developmental activities. We wanted to bring administration closer to the people and hence the 12th district of the State was created,” he said.

He also took the opportunity to inform the people of the State that MDA government has always kept the peoples issues as top priority. “Whatever concerns the people have raised, including those which were raised earlier, our MDA government has been very prompt to find an amicable solution to address the concerns,” he added. “We have been a public oriented and a people centric government, a government that is for the people of our State,” he stressed.He also told the gathering that whenever as Chief Minister, he inaugurates a development project there is always discontentment in certain parts of the State as he is labelled of being ‘selective’ and ‘preferential’ in carrying out development activities. “Whenever I inaugurate a development project in Khasi Hills, inevitably there is a message from Garo Hills, saying what about Garo Hills whenever I inaugurate a project in Garo Hills, there is a message what about Jaintia Hills friends, let me tell you that this MDA government does not discriminate based on tribe, caste, creed or religion we don’t differentiate between Khasi, Garo or Jaintia Hills wherever development is required, we take decision to spread developmental activities,” he asserted.

Clarifying on the naming of the new district, the Chief Minister said that several consultations were made and different people were asked for their opinions. “We are a matrilineal society, so we felt that some linkage with the parent district should be incorporated. Hence the cabinet felt that since the region falls in the Eastern part of West Khasi Hills, we should name it as Eastern West Khasi Hills.”

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh stated that it was a historic day for the people of the region. He also expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and the government for considering the long felt demand of the people. “During the pandemic some people had impressed on me to open the new district with the restrictions of 50 guests but I believe that each individual of Mairang and Mawthadraishan must witness and partake in this important milestone personally,” he said. “This is a day of victory dedicated to the people and I thank them for being here with all of us. I’m happy to say that the Hon’ble CM and all the MLAs of MDA are individuals who have the same vision to work for the people”.

Press Release No. 309/21

WORKSHOP ON BASIC NEONATAL RESUSCITATION PROGRAM, FIRST GOLDEN MINUTE HELD

Due to the frequent need for resuscitation after birth of a new born baby, it is critical to have evidence-based care guidelines and to train health providers for effective neonatal resuscitation. To further this, a workshop on basic neo-natal resuscitation program (NRP)- First Golden Minute (FGM) was held on November 10, 2021 at Nazareth Hospital Shillong. The training was organized for Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHP) of the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres in Meghalaya. The workshop was organized by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics & National Neonatology Forum, in collaboration with NHM-Meghalaya-CPHC(Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Programme).

The workshop focused on the importance of the First Golden Minute- The “Golden Minute” refers to the first 60 seconds of an infant’s life. Within these limited seconds, the infant should begin breathing on his or her own, or interventions must be started without delay. With neonatal resuscitation training, healthcare professionals are better equipped to recognize a newborn in distress and begin treatment within 60 seconds. One minute can determine a life and a lifetime.

In the workshop, the MLHPs were trained on how to resuscitate a new born baby under various scenarios by State Maternal Health experts. The various interventions that should be taken in case the baby does not begin to breathe within the first 60 seconds were also explained as well as demonstrated in a step-by-step manner. This involved majorly, the use of resuscitation bag and mask instrument for the resuscitation process. The trainers also emphasized on the importance of one-hour uninterrupted Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) or skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn.

The Principal Health Secretary, Sampath Kumar, IAS also attended the workshop. While going through the workshop and training process, he informed that almost 40 pc of deliveries in Meghalaya are still happening at home, therefore it becomes all the more significant to know the value of the First Golden Minute (FGM), not only by the healthcare providers, but also the common people, especially expecting mothers.

As informed by the Principal Health Secretary, the institutional deliveries have now gone up to 60 percent in the State, after the launch of Rescue Mission by the Health Department, aimed at saving the lives of infants and mothers. He emphasized on the importance of training traditional birth attendants and the need for healthcare providers to work together with them, especially to ensure safe delivery in rural and hard-to-reach areas. While interacting with the MLHPs and the State maternal health experts, the Principal Health Secretary also took stock of the requirements in health centers.

Historically, Meghalaya has faced challenges in bringing down its Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), but recent interventions by the State Health Department in the form of ‘Rescue Mission’ to save the lives of mothers and children, which was launched in 2020 has begun to show gradual improvements in indicators. Some important progress has been made towards reducing maternal deaths since the start of the Rescue Mission.

Rescue Mission involves close weekly review of Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health Status across all districts in Meghalaya at all levels- State, Block and Sector levels. This is part of the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach to problem solving, which lies at the core of State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP), launched by the Government of Meghalaya to address critical developmental issues. It may be recalled that the inaugural session of Meghalaya State Capability Forum initiated under the State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP) took place on October 2, 2021.