IMPHAL, Sep 14 NNN : The premier medical institute of Manipur, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) today celebrated its 42nd anniversary amidst a state wide 12-hour bandh call given by militant outfit Maoist Communist Party (MCP) in protest against the alleged lack of care of the institute in health service.
\nMeanwhile, the MCP sponsored general strike affected normal life in the state. Streets in the state capital Imphal wore a deserted look with the Khwairamband bazaar remaining shut for the day. Traffic was totally out of sight in the capital.
\nBoth the inter-state and inter-district bus services were halted due to the strike. Government and business establishments were also closed due to it.
\nThe MCP imposed the bandh from 5 am to 5 am Saturday. The outfit has blamed the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for negligence in providing medical care to the people. It had said the strike was called on September 14, the foundation day of RIMS to protest against its laxity in its health care system. Meanwhile, a 27-year-old woman died in the RIMS ICU shortly before a CS operation delivery was to perform at the hospital last night. Registering a protest against the death, hundreds of locals staged sit-in at Lamshang bazaar.
\nAheibam Bijeta, wife of A Sanatomba, a resident of Lamshang bazaar in Imphal West district died after she had medication to deliver her first baby through CS operation. The family said Bijeta died due to negligence of the attending doctors.
\nIn the meantime, RIMS celebrated its anniversary at the Jubilee Hall of the institute.
\nThe celebration was also attended by Lok Sabha MP T Meinya, RIMS Director S Sekharjit, MLA L Nandakumar, Prof Ibopishak, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences. Sekharjit in his speech delivered on the occasion said RIMS was first established in 1972 with the name Regional Medical College under the North Eastern Council.
\nHe said the institute has so far produced 1, 057 Post Graduates (PGs), 2, 538 Bachelor of Medicines and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and three Masters of Chirurgical (MChs).
\nSekharjit said, \u201cWe are putting efforts to bring more development of the institute that has over 1, 800 employees.\u201d It now also has a Dental College that was opened on August 28 last, he added. Lok Sabha MP Meinya appealed to the underground groups not to make any kind of trouble in the hospital and underscored the need for further improvement of the institute and get ready for joining the global competition.
\nHe said, \u201cWe need to work hard in today\u2019s highly competitive world especially in the field of education. We need to imitate the Chinese work culture.\u201d
\nSeveral good medical students were honoured awards on the occasion. Two journals including RIMS Newslettter and Remedy were also released during the function. A cultural programme was also held to mark the day.<\/p>\n\n