PM Modi Assam visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 14,300 crore in Assam today (April 14). PM inaugurated AIIMS Guwahati and three other medical colleges to the nation on Friday.
He also inspected the newly built campus in Guwahati along with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
AIIMS-Guwahati inauguration:
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati started functioning with 150 beds from April 14. Patient care services at AIIMS, Guwahati had started with telemedicine from August last year and limited OPD for local residents began in September, Executive Director Ashok Puranik said.
He said 85 per cent construction work at the project site is already complete. Most of the clinical departments are functional with the out patient department handling an average of 150 patients per day. The services include day care, pharmacy, laboratory facilities and radiological investigations, he said.
“We are taking baby steps at present with 150 beds to become functional from April 14, but within the next three or four years, the hospital will be fully functional with a capacity of 750 beds,” Puranik said. The hospital will provide “high-quality patient care services” in various specialities and super specialities including cardiology, neurology, burns and plastic surgery, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and interventional radiology, the official said.
AIIMS, Guwahati was established with the three-pronged objective of state-of-the-art patient care, high-quality medical education and cutting-edge research, which will not only benefit Assam, but also its neighbouring states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur, he said.
“The institute aims to correct regional imbalances in the availability of affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services, to augment facilities for quality medical education and providing comprehensive, quality and holistic tertiary care health services to the people of Assam and neighbouring states,” Puranik said.
It will also provide cancer care, advanced laparoscopy facilities, trauma care and “futuristic interventions like robotic surgery, organ transplantation, regenerative medicine, genetics and simulation lab”. Regarding its academic activities, Puranik said at present, there are three batches of students, with the fourth to join in July-August this year.
The institute has 199 MBBS students, 78 faculty members, 125 nursing officers and 12 senior residents, he said, adding, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Maligaon Railway Hospital to facilitate clinical exposure and clinical postings for fourth and fifth semester students. An agreement is also likely to be signed with IIT-Guwahati with primary focus on collaboration on artificial intelligence, robotics, low-cost equipment, cloud computing and digitalisation.
AIIMS-Guwahati was planned under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). The Union Cabinet approved its setting up at Changsari in Kamrup district at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore in May 2017. The construction work began in 2019.
Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute foundation stone ceremony:
He also laid the foundation stone of Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) and launched 'Aapke Dwar Ayushman' campaign by distributing Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards to eligible beneficiaries.
Guwahati High Court's platinum jubilee celebration:
At around 2:15 pm, Prime Minister will attend the programme marking the platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Guwahati High Court at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati.
Bihu event:
At 5:00 pm, Prime Minister will reach Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati to preside over a public function, where he will witness a colourful Bihu programme performed by more than 10,000 Bihu dancers.
During the programme, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various development projects including commissioning of a 500 TPD Menthol Plant in Namrup; laying of foundation stone of bridge on Brahmaputra River connecting Palashbari and Sualkuchi; foundation stone laying for beautification of Rang Ghar, Sivasagar; and dedication to five railway projects to the nation.
Rongali Bihu will be celebrated in Assam today. Observed in the first week of the month Bohag (mid-April) every year, Rongali or Bohag Bihu heralds the Assamese New Year and is widely celebrated among the community. The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signifies the distinct cycles of farming- Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January, Bohag or Rongali Bihu in April, and Kongali Bihu in October.
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