Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates Project II to add six new buildings at NEIAH

SHILLONG: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday inaugurated six new buildings as part of the Project II of North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) to expand capacity. The cost of the construction of these new buildings is estimated at more than Rs 60.16 crores. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “It gives me immense pleasure that we have been able to open up these six new buildings in Shillong. They will expand the capacity of this premier institute which can play an instrumental role in furthering the role of traditional medicine in the region. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are taking steps to build evidence based research in traditional medicine in tandem with modern medicine.

The Six new buildings will have a boys hostel with a capacity to accommodate 104 occupants, a girls hostel with a capacity to accommodate 104 occupants, 8 units of Type III quarter, six units of Type IVA Quarter, seven units of Type IVB cum Director’s Residence, a senior resident hostel with 25 units, and a guest house with 19 rooms and two suites. Speaking about the role of Northeast’s role in traditional medicine, Sarbananda Sonowal added, “Our northeast is blessed by Mother Earth whose natural bounty has helped us heal for many generations. We simply want to take this process forward so that it can help many more people and help them live a better quality of life.

NEIAH has witnessed a steady growth in patients as more and more people are experiencing better results at the hospital. In FY2022-23, the hospital saw footfall of 52,088 patients in its OPD clinics while 504 patients were admitted as IPD patients for healing and recovery. In Ayurveda, NEIAH saw a footfall of 36,683 patients at the OPD clinics as well as 482 patients got admitted at the IPD section of the university. In Homoeopathy, the footfall in its OPD clinics were 19,397 patients while 22 patients got themselves admitted under it. As many as 35 health camps and four CMEs (Continuing Medical Education) were conducted by NEIAH during the same period, stated a press release.

The event was also attended by Guests of Honour, viz. Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Government of Meghalaya as well as AL Hek, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Government of Meghalaya. Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, Vice Chancellor, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU); Prof (Dr) Nalin Mehta, Director, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) and Dr Neeta Mahesekar, Director, NEIAH also attended the event.

In the academics, NEIAH has already enrolled six undergraduate batches into Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS). From 50 students in 2016-17, the intake of students has now been increased to 63 per batch. The courses are affiliated to North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya. The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) is an autonomous Institute under Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. NEIAH was established to provide health care facilities to the people of NE Region and Sikkim under Ayurveda and Homoeopathy systems of medicine. The Institute is currently running one college Ayurveda and one college of Homoeopathy along with its attached hospitals. The Institute runs 60 bedded Ayurvedic and 20 bedded Homoeopathic Hospitals.

Also Read: Meghalaya: Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates Six New Buildings Of NEIAH

Also Watch: