Kukiland Expresss desk | By Nengcha Haokip
Songpi: April 29, 2026
In a major step toward rebuilding healthcare infrastructure in conflict-affected Manipur, MLA Kimneo Hangshing on Tuesday inaugurated L&S Compassionate Healthcare at Saikul Hill Town in Kangpokpi district. The facility is the first private healthcare clinic to be established in the area after prolonged ethnic violence and instability severely disrupted access to reliable medical services for local residents. Its opening has been widely seen as both a developmental milestone and a humanitarian response to the acute healthcare vacuum in one of the district’s worst-hit regions.
The newly inaugurated centre is designed to function as a comprehensive medical hub for Saikul and adjoining villages, where communities have struggled with delayed treatment and lack of emergency response since May 2023. L&S Compassionate Healthcare will offer a full range of services including outpatient and in-patient care, emergency and trauma response, advanced diagnostics, radiology, CT scan, laboratory services, and a 24/7 pharmacy. The presence of these facilities under one roof is expected to reduce preventable complications and referrals that previously forced patients to travel long distances to Imphal or Dimapur.
The inauguration ceremony drew church leaders, civil society organisations, government officials, and hundreds of local residents, turning the event into a collective symbol of resilience and recovery. For communities that have endured repeated displacement, violence, and limited healthcare access over the past several years, the clinic represents a tangible return of essential services. Many attendees described the moment as historic, saying it restored a sense of hope and dignity for families still grappling with the aftermath of conflict.
A key highlight of the programme was a detailed presentation by Dr. John Lupheng, who outlined the vision and mission of the healthcare centre. He explained that L&S Compassionate Healthcare was founded on the principle of “Healing Hands and Caring Hearts,” with a clear commitment to deliver quality and compassionate treatment to underserved hill communities. He noted that the urgent need for accessible care in Saikul drove the initiative, especially after numerous cases where delayed medical intervention led to avoidable loss of life.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Kimneo Hangshing said the arrival of a full-service private healthcare institution in Saikul was long overdue and essential for survival in conflict-prone terrain. She stated that repeated episodes of violence had exposed critical gaps in emergency medical response, trauma care, and diagnostic accessibility, making the establishment of the centre a pressing necessity rather than just a development project. Hangshing stressed that quality healthcare should not remain a privilege limited to urban centres when timely treatment in the hills often determines life or death.
The MLA further emphasized that rebuilding Saikul must go beyond restoring peace and security. It requires institutions that directly support human wellbeing, livelihood, and dignity. She lauded the founders and stakeholders of L&S Compassionate Healthcare for taking the risk to bring advanced medical services to the grassroots level, calling it a crucial effort to bridge the longstanding healthcare gap between hill and valley populations. According to her, such initiatives demonstrate that recovery is possible when communities, private actors, and public representatives work together.
The programme also included a dedication ceremony led by Hegin Misao, who offered prayers for healing, protection, and guidance for the institution and its medical staff. Community leaders and civil society groups present at the event expressed optimism that the clinic would become a vital pillar of healing for families affected by conflict and displacement. Residents said the 24/7 emergency and trauma services were especially important, given the region’s vulnerability to both conflict-related injuries and everyday medical emergencies that previously went untreated due to distance.
With its formal launch, L&S Compassionate Healthcare is now being viewed as a broader symbol of rebuilding in Saikul, reinforcing the idea that strengthening healthcare systems must move alongside peacebuilding and development efforts in conflict-affected areas. Stakeholders hope the centre will not only save lives but also restore public confidence, create local employment, and set a model for healthcare delivery in other remote and vulnerable parts of Manipur.
