Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 412/18

STATE LEVEL WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY 2018 OBSERVED

World Blood Donor Day 2018 themed ‘Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life’ was observed here today at Raj Bhawan, Shillong which was attended by Governor of Meghalaya, Ganga Prasad as the Chief Guest. Speaking during the occasion, Chief Guest, Governor of Meghalaya, Ganga Prasad, while acknowledging the noble gesture of the voluntary blood donors said blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency health care and adequate supply of blood during emergencies requires a well-organized blood service and this can only be ensured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor community committed to voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the year. He also informed that the highlight of this year media’s campaign would be engagement with the social media platforms through the initiative called RaktDaan India for which a Facebook page has been created by National Blood Transfusion Council with the tagline-‘Raktdaan, Kar ke dekho accha lagta hain’ to spread awareness about blood donation and motivate people to participate in voluntary blood donation camps and walk in to blood banks for donating blood. Earlier, Dr Mrs R Allya, Deputy Director, DHS(PI) and Member Secretary, State Blood Transfusion Council, Shillong spoke on the Importance of Blood Donation with reference to the theme for 2018. Every year on 14th June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. The campaign for this year’s World Blood Donors Day aims to highlight stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood and to motivate people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so particularly the youth. The Governor also felicitated the Voluntary Blood Donor Organizations and the Regular Voluntary Blood Donors during the occasion. Students of different Nursing Schools from the city also presented various performances. Among others who spoke were Dr S Lyngdoh, Project Director, Meghalaya Aids Control Society, Shillong, Dr H Dkhar, In-Charge Blood Bank, Nazareth Hospital, Shillong & Member, State Blood Transfusion Council, Meghalaya and Mr S Thangkhiew, a regular voluntary blood donor.

Press Release No. 414/18

PROHIBITORY ORDER

The District Magistrate Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh has issued a Prohibitory Order prohibiting any individual households, Institutions, Industries, Private hotels, Petrol Pumps, Car Washing etc from resorting to, the act of indiscriminate earth cutting, stone quarrying, sand mining and discharged of plastic waste, human waste and solid wastes into the Umran rivers, streams or channels with the explicit or implicit intention to cause pollution of water bodies and health hazard within the district. If anyone found violation shall be prosecuted under the relevant Section of the Law.

Press Release No. 416/18

J P NADDA MEETS HEALTH MINISTERS OF NORTH EAST STATES

The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda today met the Health and Family Welfare Ministers of the North Eastern States - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Sikkim relating with the health scenario in the region. Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri A. L. Hek accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri Alo Libang, Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri S. Pangyu Phom, Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri L Jayantakumar Singh, Sikkim Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri Arjun Kumar Ghatani and Assam Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri Pijush Hazarika were present at the meeting. The North East Health Ministers apprised the Union Health Minister on the health situation in the respective states and the shortage of faculty members in the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong. The Union Health Minister urged the states for optimum use of resources that are being provided by the Centre. The state health ministers presented the issues that need to be addressed on a priority basis for bringing about desired changes in the health scenario of the states. The Union Health Minister also took note of the issues related to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong. Meghalaya Health Minister Shri Hek along with his counterparts urged the Union Health Minister to fill up the vacant post in different positions in the teaching and non-teaching departments. The North East Health Ministers also raised the issue of de-recognition of the Post Graduate course at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong with the Union minister and requested him for his personal intervention. The Union Health Minister told the Health Ministers that he is aware of the problems in NEIGRIHMS and assured the North East Health Ministers that he will soon called for the meeting of the NEIGRIHMS Governing Council to address the problems.

Press Release No. 417/18

MEGHALAYA TO JOIN NATIONAL HEALTH PROTECTION MISSION

Meghalaya would join the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission also known as Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swashthya Suraksha Mission on a convergence mode with Megha Health Insurance Scheme transitioning to the National Health Insurance Scheme. This was asserted by Shri A. L. Hek, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Meghalaya who was present during the Ayushman Bharat National Health Minister's Conclave at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi today. The consultative conference was convened by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which was attended by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri J.P. Nadda and Health and Family Welfare Ministers from other states. Speaking during the occasion, Shri A L Hek outlined the features of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) which is in its third phase of implementation since its launch in 2012. The successful scheme which has won several awards like Skoch Order of Merit and shortlisted for the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in 2014 has enrolled 4,36,788 households benefiting 15,57,008 persons in 201 empanelled hospitals all over the state and country. Under the MHIS the existing health insurance cover is Rs.2,80,000 while the new ambitious National Health Protection Mission shall provide health insurance cover of Rs 5,00,000. The number of households identified by Government of India for the National Health Protection Mission is 3,39,779 households while the balance number of beneficiaries shall be covered by the state government with the same cover which is proposed at the level of the central scheme. Shri A.L. Hek informed in the conclave today that the Government of Meghalaya would universalize the National Health Protection Mission to cover all eligible households co-branding with MHIS so that the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Swashthya Suraksha Mission or National Health Protection Mission is availed by people of Meghalaya all over the country with empanelled hospitals. The state signed MoU today which was signed by Pravin Bakshi, Secretary Health and Family Welfare Dept and Chief Executive Officer Megha Health Insurance Scheme in the presence of Minister Health and Family Welfare Shri Hek.

Press Release No. 418/18

SPECIAL SUMMARY REVISION OF PER LAUNCHED IN WKH

The Election Commission of India (ECI) with an initiative to improve the election process in the Country has implemented The Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls of Intensive Nature with respect to 01.01.2019 as qualifying date launched today by Shri K. L. Nongbri i/c Deputy Commissioner at TRYSEM Hall organized by the office of the DC Office (Election) West Khasi Hills District, Nongstoin. The programme was attended by the representatives of the political parties, EROs, supervisors, BLOs district heads and election branch. Shri K. L. Nongbri while explaining the purpose of the Summary to ensure that no voters be left out and for a smooth summary revision to achieved the target before the qualifying date needs the cooperation, dedication and support of all election machineries including political parties of the District. He also stressed upon the needs for political parties to appoint Block Level Agents (BLAs) in polling stations, so as to ensure eligible voters to get themselves enroll in the electoral roll. Shri S. Warjri, EAC dwelt at length the election procedure and rules of conduct preparing for the upcoming election as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. The programme ended with the vote of thanks offered by Smti.M.V.Lyngdoh, EAC Nongstoin.

Press Release No. 419/18

AWARENESS CAMP ON BANKING OMBUDSMAN SCHEME

The State Bank of India, Lead Bank Office Ladweitang, West Khasi Hills District Nongstoin informed the general public that the Reserve Bank of India’s Banking Ombudsman will be organizing the awareness programme on “ Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006” on 16th June, 2018 at SGSY Hall, BDO’s Office Nongstoin at 12 Noon. The main purpose of organizing the programme is to sensitize the general public and all Customers of banks about grievances redressals through Banking Ombudsman Scheme. All Customers of the banks are cordially invited to attend the programme and avail the benefits from the Officials of the RBI.