Meghalaya to have AYUSH Centers to promote wellness tourism

Sohra Town, Meghalaya

As part of the state’s efforts to provide better health care facilities to the people, Meghalaya government is setting up an Ayush Hospital at Wahshari, Sohra (Cherrapunji). Alexander Laloo Hek (AL Hek), Health and Family Welfare Minister, has laid the foundation stone for the 50-bed Integrated AYUSH Hospital on Saturday, 17 November 2018.

Delivering his address, the health minister expressed happiness that after years of continuous efforts and proposals, the Ministry of AYUSH under the National AYUSH Mission has allotted sanction for the setting up of two hospitals, one in Sohra and the other at Ri Bhoi District.

He highlighted that the reason behind selecting Sohra as one of the Center was that the government wanted to promote the concept of health tourism in the region.

Root Bridge, Cherrapunji

“Sohra is adorned with natural scenic beauty known throughout the world making it a sought after tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the country and the world over,” said Al Hek.

Through this Center, the practices of local and traditional medical practitioners will also be integrated with AYUSH programme, which will help to revive and promote the ancient and traditional methods of healing. We have Kerala as a successful example, where its health tourism, promoted through the traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Siddha, attracts tourist from all over the world,” added the minister.

The minister also thanked the people of Sohra, who had generously contributed their land for the setting up of the Center.

“It is a privilege and a matter of pride for the people of Sohra that such a hospital is coming up in the region. Our health engineering wing should ensure that the work is carried out at the earliest so that the Center will be completed in time,” said Gavin M Mylliem, MLA of Sohra.

“On completion, the Centre will prove to be very beneficial not only for the people residing in these areas but also for thousands of visiting tourists,” added the MLA.

While speaking on the occasion, Pravin Bakshi, Secretary of Health & Family Welfare Department and the Director of AYUSH, said that AYUSH programme is growing all over the country and is being further strengthened with the setting up of a full-fledged Ministry of AYUSH at the centre.

Dawki River

“We already have a huge tourist footfall in the region and it will be very beneficial to link tourism with health and wellness. Having an AYUSH hospital will not only promote healthy living among the people but also enhance inflow of tourists, who will now have another reason for visiting Sohra,” said Bakshi.

He also suggested not naming the centre as a hospital but rather as a health and wellness centre which goes beyond the scope of treatment whereby people can avail various therapies which is not necessarily linked to illness but to overall health, wellness and beauty.