As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is opening corridors for trade with the neighbouring countries. A series of programmes were launched in June, 2018 to enhanced people to people contact and for better understanding and cooperation amongst China, South Asia and South East Asian countries especially in tourism, trade, agriculture and cultural relations.
The first China- South Asia Cooperation Forum, the 12th K2K Forum and the 25th China Kunming Import-Export Fair were held from June 12 to 20 where delegates from 87 countries attended.
The K2K (Kolkata to Kunming) Forum was organized by the Development Research Center of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government, the Center for Studies in International Relations and Development of India, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata and the Consulate-General of the Republic of India in Guangzhou. The event is coorganized by Yunnan Province Business Research Institute and Yunnan International Trade Association.
The new State of the art Trauma Centre of Nazareth Hospital, Shillong was inaugurated on the 12th July 2018, by Honorable Minister Shri. A. L. Hek I/C Health and Family Welfare Government of Meghalaya.
Though there are many hospitals in the state of Meghalaya, sadly however despite this there has never been a dedicated center for Trauma Victims till date and Nazareth Hospital being one of the oldest and the one who is always at the forefront of providing the people of Meghalaya with the best and the latest in medical care saw the need of the hour is a dedicated Trauma Center in the region.
What is important to understand however is the difference between an Emergency Unit and a Trauma Unit. While an Emergency Unit is by law required in all hospitals it however will take care of a wide variety of emergencies ranging from Medical, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Surgery and other forms of medical emergencies. A dedicated Trauma Center however, will cater only and only to “trauma patients” and this requires the presence of a team of dedicated specialists assigned solely for this purpose and in the process providing the patients with the best and most comprehensive treatment available.
But the scarcity of human resources has always held us back even though the dream of having one never died. Fortunately, though this year with the presence of the required specialists, in the field of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Surgery, who are available 24hrs on call have made it possible to realize this dream.
Trauma in the state have increased every year and with the number of vehicles plying in the street and the presence of high-speed highways have only added to the increase in the number of trauma victims and the trend is going to increase with each passing year.
Taking all these factors into consideration Nazareth Hospital has therefore started a dedicated Level 2 Trauma Unit to specially cater to this growing group of patients and the presence of these dedicated specialists, nursing staff, equipments along with a state of the art ICU will help these victims get the best care at the earliest and making sure that lives are saved, and patients returned to their families in the best of health and functional state as possible.
We do hope that our endeavor will be a boon for the people of Meghalaya especially the areas in and around Shillong and that more precious lives are saved in the process.
The Aqua Culture mission in the state has not achieved its target of the demand of 22,000 metric tons of Fish for Meghalaya. Now the worst has come, that fish import from other states may be banned, after detection of formalin in fishes in other areas of the North eastern region, including those imported from Odisha. However, some fish merchants from Shillong would undertake a tour to Andhra Pradesh to finding out the reality of the situation, as some of the fish merchants have invested in fish ponds in Andhra Pradesh. At present 21,000 metric tons of fish are brought into the state from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Odisha and West Bengal. However taking no chances, even local fish would be tested for formalin. There is however already an existing laboratory at Pasture Institute, which however needs to be upgraded.
Goody-goody things about democracy and India apart, let us first see what Indian democracy is. It is important because the Indian constitution is a paradise of ‘lawyers’, it is poetry – a long poem, an artwork of great beauty, a wishful thinking of idealist minds and the like. It allows for almost anything and everything and therefore, it has been amended so frequently. It allows for every irregularity, every injustice and every sort of justice. It allows for a complete ‘soft state.’ It allows for freedom to speak so much so that recently a political leader equated the Governor with a dog and like any good news it flashed and was dissolved into the black body of party politics. The Governor was cool about it; the Court (that could take up such things suo motu) was cool about it. Why? Calling a Governor a dog is praising him for his loyalty! It is difficult to suggest the measures to be taken to improve the Indian democracy; yet, I am giving some odd suggestions.
Review on Advanced Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Management Consortium held at ICAR
The Third Annual Review meet on the Advanced Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Management Consortium (ADMaC) was held at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Umiam today (13th June 2018). The event was attended by Dr A Chakraborty Project Co-ordinator, Dr S. N Das Senior Consultant, Dr Lal Krishna Senior Consultant, Dr Md Aslam Advisor DBT, Dr K.M Bujarbaruah VC AAU, and Dr. Narendra Prakash, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam. The scientist and the technical staff of the institute also participated in the daylong event.
The objective of the meeting was to review the progress made and to plan the strategy for further development of the region. Partners from all the eight North Eastern states participated in the review meet. The institute is located in a strategic position; the international borders are open which leads to a cross border transmission of animals and diseases. A study and preparedness is required to handle any outbreak of exotic diseases. In the review meet models of development were formulated. Piggery off late is an integral part of the region needs special attention. The meat sector has grown in the course of time and the meat requirement of the region is fulfilled. The meeting is of tactical importance as the input from the ground zero level is sorted and unique programmes designed for the expansion of the sector.
The event also witnessed a series of book and manual releases to name a few Connect NER Vets was launced the address book includes addresses, contact numbers, e mail IDs of Veterinary institutes, KVKs, State Veterinary Departments, Veterinary Scientists, Vety Officers of NER, Partners of ADMaC and Referal Veterinary Disease Diagnosis Laboratories distributed in India for exchange of information and easy communication. ADMaC Mobile application was also launched the App provides firsthand information on clinical and gross changes of important infectious diseases of livestock and poultry. It helps the Farmers, Field Assistants, Field Veterinary Doctors to tentatively diagnose, the ailment and enables them to take appropriate measures to contain the disease namelyDuck Plague, Brucellosis, CSF, Anthrax, ORF, Swine Pox, Procinecirco virus, PPR and Listeriosis. In addition disease forewarning is also included for the top 5 livestock diseases (CSF, FMD, BQ, HS and Fascioliasis) reported in NER. In-house Indirect ELISA for detection of CSFV antibodies in serum and plasma from pigs using RK 13 adapted cell cultured viral antigen (IPR being applied) Number of kits of indigenous origin is available in the country for the zero-screening of CSF in India. The currently used kits are imported and are very expensive in terms of cost. The work has been carried out during 2014-17 and utilizes a novel rabbit kidney 13 cell line adapted virus. The Kits were handed over to all the eight NER State Disease Investigation Labs for second ring validation. The other manuals launched during the programme were Biennial Progress report, 2016-18, Standard Diagnostic Protocol, Booklet on Sampling plan for surveillance of Livestock diseases in North East Region, a CD was also entitled Database of Indian Classical Swine Fever Virus Sequences.
The new Khasi Hills District Council Chief, H. S. Shylla has announced parting of ways with Adelbert Nongrum, accusing that Nongrum turned up late during the day of the election, and that Nongrum had failed to honour an agreement, that he would support Shylla. In the meantime Adelbert Nongrum of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Party (KHNAM), who is also a member of the Legislative has resigned as member of KHNAM, being the lone member of the party in the assembly. Nongrum had declared that he would neither support the treachery bench nor the opposition, unless certain conditions are spelled out, including the approach for efficiency of the District Council employees, and a commitment not to mine uranium in the state.
