Tura, September 21, 2026: In a significant boost to maternal and child healthcare services in Garo Hills, Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma on Monday inaugurated the newly constructed 50-bedded annex building at the District Maternity & Child Hospital (DMCH), Tura.
The programme was attended by Shri Sampath Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Shri Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, senior health officials, doctors and other dignitaries.
The new annex is expected to substantially enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide quality maternal and child healthcare services. It will help improve patient care, reduce overcrowding and ensure better healthcare facilities for mothers and children in the region.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched and distributed Mother & Child Care Kits to beneficiaries admitted in the hospital wards.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister congratulated the Health Department and emphasized that saving lives is a collective responsibility. He stated that since 2018, the governnent has accorded top priority to the social sector, with health, education and social welfare together accounting for nearly one-fourth of the State Budget. Education alone, he said, receives an allocation of around ₹3,000–3,500 crore annually.
He stressed the importance of effective utilization of resources, stating that development is not only about spending funds but ensuring that expenditure translates into measurable outcomes. Describing health and education as “sticky subjects,” he said that investments in these sectors often take five to ten years to yield visible results.
Highlighting the state’s achievements, Conrad K Sangma said Meghalaya has recorded the highest reduction in maternal mortality in the country, with a 55 per cent decline. However, he stressed that the ultimate goal should be zero maternal and child deaths. He urged healthcare professionals to remain motivated despite challenges, noting that healthcare is not merely about prescribing medicines but about saving lives.
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The Chief Minister further stated that Meghalaya’s Mother and Child Health Model has received national recognition and that he has been invited to present the model before the Prime Minister, describing it as a proud moment for the state. He added that several healthcare projects are in the pipeline under the PM-DevINE scheme and that further expansion of the Mother and Child Hospital is also being planned.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sampath Kumar said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the state government has consistently focused on strengthening healthcare infrastructure over the past six to seven years. He noted that investments in hospitals and healthcare facilities are already reflecting positively in the state’s human development indicators.
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He said the government’s objective is to bring both the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to single-digit levels. Alongside infrastructure development, he added, the government is focusing on community mobilization by involving traditional institutions, strengthening grassroots healthcare systems and ensuring the effective use of referral vehicles to save the lives of mothers and children.
Earlier, Dr. P. Chyne, Director of Health Services (MCH & FW), delivered the welcome address and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his continued support and commitment towards strengthening the health sector in Meghalaya.
