Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma opened a 50-bed annex at the District Maternity and Child Hospital in Tura this Monday. The expansion lifts the facility to 150 beds total. It also introduces the first public Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Garo Hills.
The expansion aims to cut overcrowding and bolster care for mothers and children. Officials including Additional Chief Secretary Sampath Kumar and West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal attended the event. Sangma handed out Mother and Child Care Kits to patients on-site.
The state has prioritized social spending since 2018. Health, education, and social welfare now take up one-fourth of the total state budget. Sangma emphasized that progress requires long-term commitment. "Development is not only about spending funds but ensuring that expenditure translates into measurable outcomes," he said.
Meghalaya claims a 55 percent drop in maternal mortality, the best rate in India. Even so, the Chief Minister urged staff to keep working toward a zero-death goal. He noted that the state's Mother and Child Health Model gained national attention and will be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
More projects are coming via the PM-DevINE scheme. Sampath Kumar said the government wants to reach single-digit figures for both the Maternal Mortality Ratio and Infant Mortality Rate. He credited these gains to better grassroots services and improved use of emergency referral vehicles.
Updated at 21st September 2026 at 10:05pm
The expanded site includes an upgraded Special Newborn Care Unit, a dedicated oxygen plant, and new quarters for medical specialists. These additions aim to keep quality treatment closer to home for families across the region.
Sangma pegged the state's drop in maternal deaths over the last five years at 137, falling from 244 to 107. The hospital now anchors the state's Mission 1000 Days project, a health initiative covering the period from pregnancy through a child's second birthday.
The Chief Minister characterized health and education as sticky subjects, noting that investments in these areas typically take five to 10 years to show results. Dr. P. Chyne, Director of Health Services, also formally acknowledged the administration's support during the opening ceremony.
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