Shillong, September 22 : The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, today organised a series of health awareness and service programmes under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA), a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering women and families through health and nutrition. The programme witnessed active participation from doctors, health workers, students, and community members, making it one of the most comprehensive health outreach activities in the state.
The ongoing programme, which involves departments of NEIGRIHMS, is being held from September 17 to October 2, 2025, and includes a variety of activities ranging from screenings and awareness drives to community outreach and health camps.
As part of the campaign, four key awareness and service programmes were conducted simultaneously today. An awareness session on mental health was organised at the Old Age Home, Shillong, addressing issues of elderly care, self-care, and psychological well-being. A blood donation camp was conducted with wide participation from staff, students, and local donors.
In schools, the focus was on young girls, with a programme on menstrual hygiene and nutrition held at Mawpat Presbyterian School, Shillong, led by the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and the Dietary Unit.
At the NEIGRIHMS OPD, patients arriving for consultations underwent regular health check-ups, which included screening for tuberculosis and common non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, physiotherapy services, nutritional assessments, distribution of IFA and calcium tablets, and counselling on hygiene and preventive health practices, and many more.
Speaking on the programme, Prof. Star Pala, Department. Of Community Medicine, NEIGRIHMS, said, “There were four awareness programmes conducted today on mental health at the Old Age Home, blood donation camp, an awareness programme in Presbyterian School Mawpat, and screenings for patients at the OPD. It is a good initiative, especially for health and nutrition and targeted towards women’s health. We are planning to continue these activities beyond October 2nd as well.”
Adding further, Prof. (Dr.) Suvamoy Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent, NEIGRIHMS, highlighted the wide range of services and facilities being provided under the campaign. He said, “Now in our hospital you have seen that there are five kiosks, plus all the speciality clinics. There are some patients who are accompanied by women, who may not be patients themselves but attendants. We are taking care of them also. We are doing routine health checkups such as blood sugar, hemoglobin estimation, nutritional advice, and particularly in the case of women and girls, we are giving guidance on hygiene. In women, it is antenatal hygiene and antenatal care, and for schoolgirls, it is menstrual hygiene and how to take care of their health. We are also focusing particularly on nutrition for women.”
Dr. Chakraborty further mentioned that the programme is not limited to the hospital campus but will soon extend to other institutions and communities. “Camps are going to take place in the drug de-addiction centre, the juvenile home at Mawkasiang, and also to the jail. During the time of Durga Puja when hospitals would be shut, we will also keep kiosks in different pandals to target women who will attend the puja,” he said.
He also added that in the coming weeks, awareness and health camps are being planned for defence institutions such as the BSF, 101 Area Army, the Air Force, and the Assam Rifles in Meghalaya, making the programme wider in reach and impact.
By integrating screenings, counselling, nutrition awareness, hygiene promotion, and specialised outreach for women, adolescents, and the elderly, the campaign reinforces the institute’s focus on holistic
