Manipur government to increase medical care to Myanmarese after rights panel’s intervention

 IMPHAL: With the intervention of the Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC), the Manipur government has taken steps to depute specialist doctors and other health workers at the Foreigners Detention Centre, Sajiwa (Imphal), where 136 foreigners, mostly Myanmarese, including 24 women, have been lodged. Officials on Tuesday said that soon after the visit of MHRC Chairperson Justice (Retd) Utpalendu Bikas Saha recently, the Superintendent of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa, requested the Director of Manipur Health Services to depute two medical officers, one gynaecologist, two male and two female nurses, a pharmacist, and a medical attendant at the Foreigners Detention Centre, Sajiwa.

The Foreigners Detention Centre in Sajiwa was set up on February 16 this year, and presently 136 foreigners, mostly Myanmar nationals, including 24 women and 6 minors, are lodged in the center. Of the 24 women, there are two pregnant ladies staying in the center. The Central Jail Superintendent, in his letter to the Health Director, said that recently, the Chairperson of MHRC, on his visit to this detention centre, expressed his dissatisfaction with the health care facilities being provided to the inmates at the detention centre, especially the unavailability of a specialist gynecologist. Presently, two lady medical officers and one lady staff nurse are posted at the centre.

The additional medical officers, specialists, and health workers are necessary for smooth management of the Foreigners Detention Centre round the clock (24 x 7) to avoid any unwanted situation related to medical care in the centre, the letter pointed out. The Manipur government, on the advice of the Union Home Ministry (MHA), began collecting the biometric data of illegal Myanmar immigrants in the northeastern state in July, and the exercise would be completed by September's end.

A team of officials of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), deputed by the MHA, assisted state government officials in collecting the biometrics of illegal immigrants at the Foreigners' Detention Centre at Sajiwa in Imphal East district. The exercise would continue in all districts until the data of all illegal Myanmar immigrants in the state was collected. As many as 718 Myanmar nationals, including 301 children and 208 women, had entered Manipur's Chandel district on July 22 and 23 due to the ongoing clashes between the Army and the civil forces in the neighbouring country.

The Myanmar nationals are now staying in seven locations of the Chandel: Lajang, Bonse, New Samtal, New Lajang, Yangnomphai, Yangnomphai Saw Mill, and Aivomjang, all villages along the India-Myanmar border. (IANS)

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