Shillong, Aug 25: Former Chief Minister, Salseng C. Marak, has been an excellent brand ambassador for the state and even in his ultimate moment he didn’t forget to do the state a huge favour.
Marak, also known as “Mr. Clean” for his clean politics, during his illness decided to get admitted at the Tura Civil hospital. Although he could have gotten himself admitted in any of the private hospitals in the state, across the country or even abroad, he didn’t.
He reposed faith in the state government-run medical health care institution, which would go a long way in building confidence of the people in such institutions. Moreover, even the medical staff at these institutions would be reinvigorated by this simple gesture of Marak.
This gesture didn’t go unnoticed and State Health Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, in her obituary reference to the former Chief Minister said his admission at Tura Civil hospital was a “certificate” that the government run institutions require.
“What we appreciate most about Mr. Marak was the fact he was treated in the civil hospital at Tura…the simplicity of this man. Through his days of his life to the last moment of his breath he never gave up on government machinery,” Lyngdoh said in the assembly.
Marak in the hospital was “never demanding” and conformed to all medical advisories of the medical staff. In short he didn’t have the air of a former Chief Minister, but conducted just as an ordinary patient. “Truly this is the kind of certification our government institutions require,” the Health Minister said about this humble leader of the state.
If Marak wanted to set an example for others to follow, his wish has come true, sooner than later. Immediately after his demise, this gesture of Marak could have had some sort of impact on Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, to get himself admitted at the Shillong Civil Hospital on Friday evening.
Sangma stayed for the night and was diagnosed with Scrub Typhus and Typhoid and provided the best of medical care possible at the government hospital. On Saturday, he was discharged and sent back to his residence, but would be under medical observation.
These gestures of Marak and now Sangma would go a long way in instilling confidence among the people.
But this has to be said that the medical services of the state government run institutions need urgent revamp.
From infrastructure, equipment, to availability of medicines and specialists, some of the heath institutions run by the state government are woefully short and found lacking.
The state is yet to have its own medical college, although work is on, and also attract the best of minds from the medical fraternity to its health institutions.
