Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 205/23

NATIONAL MILK DAY CELEBRATED

The Directorate of Dairy Development today celebrated National Milk Day at Central Dairy campus, Mawiong. Shri A.L Hek, Minister I/c Animal Husbandry and Veterinary graced the programme as the Chief Guest and Shri S.C Sadhu, Secretary, A.H and Veterinary Department as the guest of honour.

Addressing the gathering, Shri A.L Hek said that Meghalaya and the country as a whole celebrated National Milk Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of White Revolution, who have worked hard to uplift and transform the dairy sector and through his tremendous effort and contribution, dairy farming has become a profitable profession.

He said that in the past few years, people in the state have gradually understood the importance and health benefits derived from milk and other milk products and this has resulted in an increase in demand for milk production. Through the Meghalaya Milk Mission, dairy farmers’ and cooperative societies who are engaged in dairy farming have seen growth and development in the dairy sector and have been profited significantly. The Minister also hoped that in the coming years, the Central government will introduce more such schemes to boost the dairy sector.

During the programme, the Chief Guest handed over the prizes to the students who participated in various competitions. The Chief Guest also gave away awards to the promising farmers and cooperative societies for their success and outstanding performance in promoting the dairy sector in the state.

Press Release No. 206/23

LAUNCH OF SAANS AT RANGBIHBIH

The Government of Meghalaya, through the Health Department, took a significant step towards eradicating Pneumonia from the state with the launch of the Social Awareness Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative.  Smti R.M Kurbah, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District today launched the Social Awareness Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) at the Community Hall in Rangbihbih, East Khasi Hills, marking a crucial effort in combating this health challenge.

Highlighting the initiative's focus on health awareness, Kurbah urged the villagers to come forward to link their Aadhaar with the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS).

She also said one of the strategies to tackle child mortality from Pneumonia is the introduction of the Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine into the state's immunization schedule. This vaccine aims to significantly reduce pneumonia cases among children.

Recognizing the gravity of pneumonia related child mortality, the Government of India initiated SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully) campaign in November 2019. The campaign's launch in Meghalaya underlines the state's dedicated efforts to combat pneumonia effectively and with a focused approach, she added.

This initiative aligns with the state's commitment in ensuring the well being of its citizens, especially the vulnerable child population, by introducing crucial vaccination measures and fostering health awareness through community engagement.