A primary health centre in Meghalaya that will be run by the Citizens Foundation. A Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Dec. 10: For city-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Citizens Foundation, service and success go hand in hand.

The NGO has recently bagged a Rs 7.41cr contract of setting up primary health centres and community health centres in Meghalaya, thus bagging an opportunity to serve the people of another state.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Meghalaya and Citizens Foundation on November 21. The organisation is expected to start work soon.

The mega project is a pilot programme undertaken by the Meghalaya government, which has decided to decentralise its health sector and has invited reputable NGOs to contribute to create better health services in the state.

Citizens Foundation participated in various programmes organised by the Meghalaya government and was finally chosen to head the programme in the hill state.

Ganesh Reddy, the secretary of Citizens Foundation, said: “The project is concentrated in seven districts of Meghalaya. Our target is to set up 31 primary health centres and community health centres with 59 sub-centres in these districts. The centres are spread across far-flung places having a rough terrain and to start a health service centre in each of these areas will be difficult. But we are treating this project as a challenge and expect to do a great job. We have already discussed the modalities of the kind of work we need to undertake.”

According to the MoU, Citizens Foundation will provide health, medical and family welfare services, both curative and preventive, at the centres. The health centres will be manned by experienced and trained personnel of the NGO, who will reside in the particular areas so that they can offer services to local residents.

In turn, the Meghalaya government has assured to provide the NGO buildings and other necessary infrastructure be necessary to start the mega project.

The government has also pledged to help in procuring medical equipment required for treatment in the centres.