Myanmar team in city with eye on buying power
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 02 2013: To press the state government for allowing them to buy electricity to light up Tamu town, a 11-member official delegation from Myanmar led by Power Minister of Sagaing Region Kyaw Win arrived here today.

The Myanmar delegation would be meeting Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also holding the portfolio of Power, tomorrow to discuss the matter.

The Myanmarese delegates would return after a confirmation from the side of the state government.

It may be recalled here that Myanmar Government had requested the Centre for buying electricity for its Tamu city few years back.

Interacting with mediapersons upon their arrival here, Minister Kyaw Win said that the 11-member delegation from Myanmar has come to Imphal to discuss the proposal of buying electricity as well as to look stock of the facilities available in Manipur in health care sector.

"On our return, Myanmar cabinet would discuss the facilities available in Manipur and the special arrangements made by the India government in the health sector and would see if we can also enjoy the facilities of healthcare", Minister Kyaw Win said, while pointing out that over the the recent years, many Myanmarese have undergone treatment in Manipur and there are reports of better healthcare facilities in Manipur than Myanmar.

Myanmar team in city with eye on buying power

So, the visiting Myanmarese delegation would study the healthcare facilities available in Manipur and submit a report to the Health Minister, he added.

Soon after their arrival, the 11-member Myanmarese delegation comprising Power Minister Sagaing Region Kyaw Win; MP (Union) Khin Maung Shwe; MP Sagaing Region Thangliana; TO Tamu Khin Maung Zaw; District MEP Tamu (SDO) Myo Nyunt; President of Union Myanmar Border Trade Chamber of Commerce (UMBTCC)Hla Maung; Secretary of UMBTCC Aye Ko, Members of UMBTCC Tin Shwe, Kyaw San Win, Aung Chin and Tin Aye, visited Shija Hospitals, RIMS Hospital and Babina Diagnostic Centre along with a team of state government officials led by Principal Secretary (Commerce & Industries) O Nabakishore.

The Myanmarese team landed Shija Hospitals at 4.30 pm where they were accorded a warm welcome by Managing Director of Shija Hospital Dr Palin and other staffs.

An interaction programme was also organised at the Conference Hall of Shija Hospitals during which Dr Palin explained to the visiting team about the healthcare facilities available in the hospital.

Dr Palin also stressed on the need to implement a simpler rule while providing border pass or Visa-on-Arrival for Myanmarese patients coming to Manipur for medical treatments.

He assured that Shija Hospitals would make special arrangements including lodging facilities and separate place for cooking their meals within the hospital premises for Myanmarese patients coming for medical treatment.

If any doctor or nurse from Myanmar wants to pursue short term courses on healthcare, Shija Hospital would make necessary arrangement for them as well, Dr Palin further assured, adding that he would also reserve seats for Myanmarese nationals in GNM and Paramedical courses in his hospital.

Sharing his personal experiences on health care situation in Myanmar, Dr Palin said that a free medical camp was organised at Moreh some months back in association with Moreh Police.

In that camp 70 percent of the patients have come from Myanmar.

Shija Hospitals have also been providing medical treatment to cleft patients under the Smile Train Project.

But there are many cleft patients in Myanmar who are not getting any treatment, Dr Palin said, adding that he would like to extend the Smile Train Project to Myanmar.

Dr Palin further disclosed that he is planning to open a branch of Shija Hospital in Myanmar if the relation between the two countries develops on good term.

Dr.Palin also appealed to the Commerce and Industry Department, Govt.of Manipur to facilitate setting up dedicated accommodation facilities for the Myanmar citizens who visit the state for various medical reasons.

Principal Secretary (Commerce & Industries) O.Nabakishore assured the visiting delegates that Visa on arrival for Myanmar citizens will be operational very soon.

He emphasized that Shija Hospitals is today synonymous with quality healthcare and the idea of bringing the visiting delegates to visit the hospitals in the state is to familiarize them with the healthcare services Manipur state can offer.

Later, the Mynamarese team visited RIMS hospital and met Director Dr Sekharjit.

From RIMS, they directly went to Babina Diagnostic Centre to inspect the various healthcare and diagnostic facilities available there.

The visiting Myanmarese delegation would be meeting Chief Minister O Ibobi at 11 am tomorrow and discuss the proposal of buying electricity from Manipur.

At 12 noon, the team would have an interactive session with Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam in the Secretariat Conference Hall.

Later, the team will visit Takyel Industrial Estate, Thangjam Agro Industries, Liberty Shoe House, Tata Motors and Kouna Production Centre.