Nagaland’s first dedicated children’s hospital opens in Dimapur with specialised paediatric care, intensive care units and emergency services
DIMAPUR — Nagaland’s first dedicated children’s hospital was inaugurated in Dimapur on Monday, expanding access to specialised paediatric care in the state with facilities including a 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and emergency services.
Dr. Belho’s Children’s Hospital, located on Walford Road, is an extension of Dr. Belho’s Clinic. While its paediatric wing was established in 2024, Monday’s inauguration marked the opening of the dedicated children’s hospital.
The inauguration coincided with the 87th birthday of Dr. T Belho, the state’s first obstetrician and gynaecologist and founder of Dr. Belho’s Nursing Home, established in 1979.
Dr. Mhasiseno T Belho, proprietor of Dr. Belho’s Clinic and Children’s Hospital, said the facility was conceived in response to the growing healthcare needs of children in Nagaland, particularly those aged between zero and 12 years.
She shared that the hospital aims to provide comprehensive paediatric care under one roof, bringing together paediatric specialists, neonatologists, super-specialists, rehabilitation services and child psychologists. The facility also has outpatient and emergency paediatric services, while a milk bank is planned for the coming days.
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“It is my prayer that this centre would bring relief to many families and offer the same level of commitment, care and dedication that they would otherwise receive out of the state,” she said.
Recalling the family’s contribution to healthcare, Dr. Mhasiseno said the nursing home established by her father in 1979 had begun with a commitment to safe motherhood, which the new facility would carry forward through its focus on children.
She described the hospital as an extension of the family’s longstanding commitment to maternal and child healthcare. She also credited her sister, Agu, for playing an instrumental role in the project, including the design and completion of the six-storey building.
Dr. Ngangshi K Ao, veteran doctor and former minister, inaugurated the hospital. Recalling his long association with Dr. T Belho, he spoke of the changes in medical technology over the years and congratulated his daughters for carrying forward their father’s legacy.
Dr. Ao, however, stressed that advances in technology should not come at the expense of humane care. He said patients came to doctors not only with physical ailments but also with fear, anxiety and worries that required attention.
“Bedside medicine is very, very important. It is not only his disease that is bothering him, but he has got other problems too. So we must take care of that,” he said.
He noted that patients from Nagaland often travelled outside the state for treatment, incurring considerable expense and hardship. The availability of specialised services locally, he said, could help bring care closer to families.
Dr. Ao urged the hospital team to provide the best possible service while maintaining compassion and personal attention to patients. He said healthcare must address not only physical ailments but also the emotional and psychological needs of patients.
Dr. T Belho said he felt blessed to witness the inauguration, describing the hospital as a vision of his daughter, Dr. Mhasiseno, who is also a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology.
“As a father, there can be no greater joy than watching your children succeed,” he said, expressing hope that the hospital would grow in its facilities and reputation for excellence, compassion and integrity.
He said a hospital dedicated to children represented an investment in the future of society and hoped it would continue to serve children and families for generations to come.