Report of the 70th

Annual General Body Meeting of CHAI

held at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru

on 25 & 26 October 2013

Theme: “CHAI at the 70th

Year and Beyond”

Day 1: 25th

October 2013

Holy Mass

His Grace Archbishop Vincent M.

Concessao, Ecclesiastical Advisor to

CHAI, presided over as the Main

Celebrant. There were 20 priests

concelebrating. Bp. Joseph

Arumachadath, Chairman, KRCBC &

Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas, Director General,

CHAI, accompanied the Archbishop at

the Altar. The Eucharistic celebration

began with an entrance dance, making it

very solemn and fitting for the 70th

year

celebrations of CHAI.

Amidst melodious hymns, the Bible was brought in a ceremonial procession to the Altar and

presented to the main celebrant who received it with due respect and placed it on the lectern and

also blessed it.

After the reading, the main celebrant His Grace Vincent M. Concessao in his homily stressed on

the need to motivate people to help the people of the neighbourhood relating the story of a

hungry boy and a kind lady who fed him and discovered the relationship as the children of God

(brother & sister).

All these 70 years the members have rendered yeoman service to millions of needy people. This

is a time for celebrating and recalling of all such services. He quoted again from the scripture

reading, “Lord say, but the word and my servant shall be healed” the expression of faith by the

Centurian, in the power of Jesus as God. He also quoted Vinoba Bhave & Mahatma Gandhi to

stress the virtue of loving one’s neighbour.

At the end of the mass, Fr. Mathew Perumpil thanked the Archbishop, Bp. Joseph Arumachadath

as well as all the delegates and also made some announcements.

Flag Hoisting

After the mass, the delegates gathered outside the auditorium at the entrance where the CHAI

flag was hoisted by His Grace Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao & Bp. Joseph jointly. The

CHAI anthem was also sung by the choir.

Inaugural Ceremony

After the prayer song, all the dignitaries went on to the stage and lighted the lamp led by the

Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao, Ecclesiastical Advisor to CHAI and Bp. Joseph

Arumachadath, Chairperson, Health Commission, KRCBC, Thereafter all of them were seated

on the dais.

The nursing students presented all of them with sprouting green plants to mark CHAI’s

involvement in eco-friendly activities.

Fr. Julius Arakal CMI, President of CHAI, in his welcome

address said that he was overwhelmed by the presence of such

a large number of members, gathered together for the 70th

AGBM. CHAI has completed 70 years of service and that we

have gathered here to recall those years of service and

achievements as well as plan strategies for the future, he said.

Then he welcomed every one of the dignitaries on the dais.

Then Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas, Director-General of CHAI,

presented the highlights of the AGBM, saying that CHAI is its members and not the office,

either the central or regional. He also read out the message

from the Prime Minister, wishing CHAI all the best for the

future. He also felt happy to announce that CHAI has become

an Associate Member of the UNION, ECOSOC, as well as a

founder member of the Christian Coalition for Health in

India (CCHI).

He then presented the national statistical health data to show

what CHAI has helped to achieve, especially, in reducing

IMR/MMR, etc and improving child nutrition & immunization coverage. We need to be ready

to change. We started Leprosy care, HIV care centers, TB sanitoria, etc. and need to become

trend-setters in healthcare, he added.

Overseas funding is hard to come by, so we need to get linked to the government schemes and

funds. Research and documentation are focus areas for improvement. Then he listed the 2-day

programme schedule.

Delivering the presidential address, Bp. Joseph Arumachadath said that he was honoured to be

part of the 70th

AGBM and thanked CHAI for choosing

Bengaluru as the venue for the same, as it is the burial

ground of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey, the founder of CHAI.

He said that suffering remains an integral part of life

and CHAI is helping people and communities to deal

with pain and suffering. CHAI is particularly focused

on the service of the poor and marginalized, the Dalits

and Tribals. I feel glad to know that CHAI is beginning

a process of thinking for the coming 30 years, he said. He quoted Holy Father Pope Francis to

stress the need for scaling up health care services. This is a core area of the Church Ministry in

which CHAI can play a big role.

In the event of foreign funds drying up, the vast healthcare network of CHAI can be utilized to

overcome problems in the health care sector. Our motivation must be faith in the healing power

of Jesus’. CHAI as a large network can play a very effective leadership in navigating the

healthcare ministry of the Church in collaboration with the CBCI Commission for Health.

Thereafter, Mr. S. Ashok Kumar, representative of

the Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of

Health Services, spoke as the Chief Guest and started

with a lot of appreciative words about Rev. Dr. Tomi

Thomas. He also appreciated the fact that Rev. Dr

Tomi Thomas is leading such a large organization.

He praised also the members of CHAI who render

yeoman service in the remotest areas of India. He

spoke with high esteem about the dedication and

commitment of the members, which is instrumental in

CHAI having achieved high percentage of results in

the areas of IMR/MMR, RCH, etc. He offered all collaboration and support to CHAI in its

efforts to promote health.

Thereafter, the founding congregations of CHAI were felicitated and honoured as per the

schedule by assigned dignitaries:

His Grace Vincent M. Concessao congratulated the

representatives of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary

(FMM) & Joseph Mary and Joseph (JMJ) – CHAI is you

all, he said.

Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza, Director, National

Academy of Health Sciences, wished a happy birthday to

CHAI as he felicitated the representatives of Presentation

of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) & Congregation of

Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS) . “70 is

not any jubilee but a special occasion, a milestone. Let us

congratulate all. As all together we are planning for the

coming 30 years and work for the fullness of life,” he

concluded.

Sr. Dr. Lucian, President, Sister Doctors’ Forum of India,

felicitated Sisters of St. Anne, Luzerne (SAS) & Society of

Catholic Medical Missionaries (SCMM) representatives and

also brought greetings from the Sister Doctors Forum of India

–. “From a very small group, CHAI has grown into the

largest Catholic Healthcare Network in the world, promoting

community health in the rural areas. In 1993 SDFI was

started at Ernakulam during a CHAI convention”, she observed.

Rev. Dr. Mathew Abraham, Secretary, CBCI

Commission for Healthcare, felicitated & honoured the

Sister representing Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (SJC)

congregation. He narrated an incident of a Malaria

affected child and a Sister who could not prescribe

drugs, being not a doctor but only a nurse. But she

treated the child and the other Sisters prayed and the

child was cured. There is an increasing tendency to

convert healthcare into an industry and as that the

industry wants the voluntary health sector to close

down. The strategic planning time is an occasion to plan and work together, he said.

Ms. Rowena McNally, President, Catholic

Health Australia, honoured Salesian

Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI)

congregation and said that reaching 70 years is

a big achievement. I feel very humbled in the

presence of so many sisters. She presented a

memento from Catholic Health Australia to Fr.

Tomi in commemoration of the 70th

year.

Response: Sr. Sundari, the Provincial of the JMJ Sisters, responded saying that she was very

happy and proud of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowry and the

organization that she had founded. CHAI has very

faithfully tried to fulfill the vision and mission of the

founder, she observed. Sr. Sundari also spoke about the

biography of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowry. She wished CHAI a

glorious future as the organization is striving to serve more

and more people who are in need of healthcare.

The Guest of Honour

Padmashree Smt. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav addressed the gathering as the guest of honour saying

that she considered it as a big honour to be present during the 70th

year celebrations of CHAI.

She said if one has the will, one can sit with the President of India, sit with the Prime Minister,

fly by air, etc. Coming from a very low and poor, illiterate and abject poverty background

without having had neither a place to stay nor any livelihood, with 4 children, I suffered a lot

during my younger days. I started the women’s empowerment movement by organizing women

into a very strong organization which today has more than 2 lakh members and a turnover of

more than Rs. 25 crore, and all that against the wishes of my-in-laws, husband, society, etc, she

recalled.

Through that organization she continues

to do a lot of social work and

empowerment of women. Although she

won a lot of awards, considerable

amounts of gold and silver and over 21

lakh rupees, she has given it all away in

charities and continues to live in her

humble hutment dwelling with the least

of facilities. She requested the sisters to

give preference for the uplift of women.

Dr. Bimal Charles, General Secretary,

CMAI, released the CHAI Herbal

Calendar 2014 and presented one to Smt.

Phoolbasan Bai Yadav and also gave

copies to all the dignitaries on the dais. Dr. Bimal recalled his early association with Fr. John

Vattamatam SVD and Doctor- Couple Ravi and Thelma Narayan. He offered greetings from

CMAI. He said that it was the Christian Network that spearheaded the HIV/AIDS campaign and

care in India.

The Sisters are the catalysts in the rural India to motivate and empower the rural population and

bring about sustainable changes in the lives of individuals, families and communities as well as

the society at large. Globalization and commercialization have made healthcare beyond the

affordability of the poor. The commercial sector has converted ill health into business and under

these circumstances we have a mandate from God to be the catalysts of compassionate care. We

need to train more youth and bring up a compassionate future generation, he concluded.

Sr. Carol Keehan, President, Catholic Health, U.S.A., releasing the CD ‘Heal us Lord’. In her

message she thanked Dr. Tomi Thomas for giving her an opportunity to be present there. She

could get acquainted with many charitable healthcare providers, with a preferential option for the

poor. She also presented a memento from Catholic Health USA to Rev.Dr.Tomi Thomas.

Fr. Joe Mannath, National Secretary, CRI, presented the prizes for the winners of the Essay

Competition. The winners were:

1st Prize: Sr. Anatole SJC, MUM Hospital, Kottayam

2nd

Prize: Rao Sahib M Mugutmal, Nithya Seva Hospital, Sheagon, Ahmednagar

3rd

Prize: Sr. Lizy Joseph, Fatima Hospital, Lucknow

Consolation Prize winners

- Sr.Anitha Showry Rani, JMJ Provincialate, Bangalore

- Sr Bertilla, Fatima Hospital, TN

- Sr Shalini D’Souza, St Francis Health Centre, Ranchi

Fr. Joe Mannath narrated an incident wherein a priest who got hospitalized in Europe and got

paid for by the government, simply because he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and

that entitled him to be paid for by the state. He also narrated a second instance of a woman from

the north east who fell sick in Delhi and died. Her medical bills were half subsidized by the

Catholic Hospital where she was treated.

Fr. Jos Ayamkudy, President, CHAKA, proposed a vote of thanks, first to all the dignitaries on

the stage presenting everyone with a memento and then all the delegates in general.

Sr. Fatima JMJ, Vice-Provincial, Hyderabad Province, inaugurated the Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey

Exhibition which was followed by tea break.

The Scientific Session – Presentation of the Strategic Plan Discussion Paper:

Fr. John Vattamattom SVD, Convenor,

Working Group, moderated over the

presentation of CHAI Strategic Plan

Discussion Paper by Fr. Julius Arakal.

Strategic Plan and approaches are

based on the founders’ thoughts and

also that of Pope Francis ‘Unity is

Strength’.

Phases of Growth and Development

were presented in detail.

Change of name, Hospital Association to Health Association, was explained.

The “competency phase” lasted from 1943 to 1956 while the ‘basic-need phase’

continued thereafter.

Along with Fr. John Vattamattom & Fr. Julius, the following were present on the stage:

Rev Dr . Tomi Thomas

Dr. K. R. Antony

Dr. Thelma Narayan

Sr. Prabha

Fr. Mathew Perumpil

Rev. Dr. Mathew Abraham

Dr. Ravi Narayan and

Dr. Sr. Lucian

Clarifications from the floor:

As there was no time to read the entire document Fr. Paul requested for a gist of the key points.

Rev. Dr. Tomi replied that it was not a strategic plan but only a discussion paper which had to be

discussed at the MIs level and only then the plan could be made using the results.

To that Dr. Ravi Narayan added that this document contained the issues in general and for

specific points, one had to refer to the 1992 book ‘Seeking the Signs of the Times’ containing 20

ideas, discussed at length and the plan document ‘The Golden Harvest’, which was the result.

Responses

We need to keep walking to reach the goal as Ms. Yadav had said, go back, discuss, give

feedback, etc., to get a final document of plan, which would be strategic enough.

Responses to the Discussion Paper from experts on the stage, who were earlier assigned that

responsibility were presented by Fr. Arakal.

Dr. Bimal Charles, CMAI

The theme is quite commendable

30 years is too long

There can be change in conditions as the years go by

The private sector is very innovative

Medical training or capacity-building of medical professionals is of paramount

importance. More and more nurses, and paramedics during next 5 years as part of the

scaling up of HR need to be trained and retrained.

Sr. Carol Keehan said she was very much impressed. One call is to continue in the rural areas

while strengthening presence in the urban areas, especially the slums. The second call – What is

your vision for all the people in India as a whole. 48 million people in the USA are insurance

covered.

There are 18,000 unnecessary deaths in the US due to lack of basic prevention. If every person in

India should have access to basic healthcare, especially the poor, it takes a lot more.

Comments Regarding CHAI Strategic Plan

“You seem to have a two-pronged strategy being rolled out in this plan that I think is

appropriate. Your first is to continue your focus on identifying and improving the clinical care

and access to it for the people you are serving. I was very impressed with the metrics that you

have currently that document the numbers being served, the outcome statistics, as well as the

comparison to the millennium goals. I would encourage you to take these and develop some

aspirational metrics say for the first three to five years and set those so you have a target you are

working to achieve.

The second prong that it seems to me you are addressing and I applaud you for it is

whether you should be firmly on record and use every bit of your strength and influence to

campaign for the right to health care for everyone. This puts the question before you of whether

you are satisfied with a great nation like India, having so many people who cannot afford and

cannot access health care unless they come and get charity from you or someone else. It asks the

question whether that is compatible with human dignity. That is a question you have to respond

to. I can tell you that the last five Popes have been very clear that basic health care is a human

right that flows from the dignity of people as children of God.

I come from a nation that is arguably the richest nation in the world and we definitely do

not provide for that. It is the reason that CHA USA has worked so hard for so many years to get

a change in our laws. Our new Affordable Care Act which many people call Obamacare will not

completely do this. If it is totally implemented, it will take care of 30 to 32 million of the 48

million people without insurance and access to health care in our country. It is a disgrace to be

from the richest country in the world and not have at least basic health care available to

everyone. I know that as I travel to many countries, people simply cannot believe that that is the

reality in the U.S.

I can tell you if you make a decision to put your efforts and influence strongly behind the

right of everyone in the great country of India to have access to health care coverage, you will be

attacked and demonized. There will be many people who will ridicule you and attempt to

undermine you for standing for the poor. But you will be standing for the poor and not just for

giving them charity, but for giving them their dignity as children of God. And I hope that you

will be able to do it and do it successfully.

Dr. Freida Chavez, Director, Global Affairs, University of Toraonto, Canada, also appreciated

the strategic discussion paper in particular and CHAI in general.

3 major points

10 nurses per 1000 personnel

29 nurses to 10,000 personnel

Nursing education needs to improve

Export of nurses is a negative point

Help MIs to improve the nursing curriculum and

practice

Introduce better nursing management system

Improve nursing practices and services

Introduce inter-professional education curriculum to introduce inter disciplinary

cooperation

Leadership roles for nurses is recommended

Alliances with different groups is very essential

Response to the strategic plan is in the backdrop of what I understand are 3 major issues facing

Nursing in India:

1. Increasing shortage of nurses in a country with a major health workforce

cirisis(10 nurses /10000 pop. against an average of 29/10000 globally)

2. Increasing migration of Indian nurses ( gather 80 % of nurses migrate )

3. Increasing (by thousands) of nursing schools with questionable standards (over

80% of nurse education by for profit providers?)

These 3 issues are very close to my heart as I was born in a country, the Philippines,

experiencing exactly the same issues , where nurses are for export; over 80 % nurses work

abroad,and like India leaves the country with a severe shortage of nurses. If India and the

Philippines were to stop producing and exportung nurses – what will happen to the heath care

system across the globe?

I agree with the principles of way forward outlined in the document and would reinforce

and add 5 points briefly:

1. CHAI continues to support M educational institutions to embrace curricular reform. , of

which facuty development is crucial. I would reinforce the redesign to a curricullum theat

Integrates Value based care with a focus on the ethical components and evidence based

practice. At the same time , the process of developing and implementing a quality

management system is vital.

2 Champion the creation of career pathways for nurses including Advanced Practice

Nursing

An umbrella term with 4 key competencies (CNA 2008, p.21-35)

Clinical -Work in partnership with the team in provision of comprehensive care

Research-Generating, synthesizing, and using research evidence

Leadership-Agents of change to improve delivery and influence health policy

Consultation and collaboration- Across sectors and at the organizational, provincial,

national, and international level for quality improvement and risk management strategies.

3. Introduce Interprofessional education – CHAI has MIs in medical and nursing education

and many programs that can make this possible. Literature point to IPE as a way to

breaksdown professional silos, whichin turn enhance s collaborative non-

hierarchicalteamwork.

Recently, Lancet Commission, group of high ranking professionals and academics

released a report on a common strategy for education in medicine, nursing, and

public health Lancet Commission is calling for a redesign of health professionals

education currently, fragmented; out dated a static curriculum to one that

transforms to CP as in reality all work together with patient being in the centre. In

other words, to prepare” collaborative practice” ready health workers (doctors,

nurses, etc.) e.g. in Canada

4. Given the severe shortage of nurses particularlyin the remote areas, where full pledged

nurses are not willing to work”, creating a centra role for nurses to train these heath

workers will build capacity and at the same time develop leadership roles for nurses

5. Last but not least is to address nursing’s lack of strong strategic representation at key

decision making forums at both State and national levels by enhancing the links of CHAI

with government. licensing and policy making bodies .

Msgr. James Culas congratulated CHAI and said ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’.

Make a SWOT Analysis for both MIs & Regional Units as well as National CHAI

Recall the Golden Harvest and the Blue Book of plan

Hospital to Health – the MIs have to play a leadership role

Repositioning for an advocacy role – But are the MIs competent

Think of a different set-up for advocacy

Within 5 years we should advocate for a Right to Health Bill in Parliament.

From implementation to advocacy role – carry it forward and to higher levels.

Subsidiary principle, regional units should have office staff, etc. MIs can provide space

for the regional units functioning and also the Bishops can give space for diocesan units

in one of their hospitals.

Strengthening Central Office mainly as regards fund-raising, especially accessing

government funds is the need of the hour. CHAI central office should help the regional

units in their efforts.

We must have comprehensive, consolidated data of what we together have and have

done.

Join the health movement in the country

Take the JSA movement more seriously and become more active in it.

I am proposing ten areas of concern after reading the discussion paper.

I. Hospital to Health

Founded as the catholic –Hospital Association of India 70 yrs ago the association

changed its name to the present Catholic Health Association of India three decade

ago. The significance of this change of name is yet to be reflected in its full

implication in the functioning of the association. The association continues to be one

that “Serves the membership” rather than one who place its leadership role. Given

her national presence and her capacity and proven track record to penetrate the vast

interior of the country, CHAI needs to discover the centrality and the unifying power

of health in human development and in the spiritual evolution of mankind. As part

of the jubilee celebration CHAI should facilitate a paradigm shift in its focus from

hospital based care of the sick to health of the people.

II. Health as a Human right

Supreme court interpreted right to health in to the ambit of the right to life Art. 21.

Right to health care as a fundamental right may be taken as one of the basic reason

behind our efforts towards strategic planning gearing towards the repositioning of

CHAI central office and to some extent its member institutions( MIS) be it research

based practice and advocacy or implementation of a need based intervention at

grass root level.

III. Perspective of Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate Extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Ensure environmental sustainability

5. Reduce child mortality

6. Empower mental health

7. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

8. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation

These concerns are very much related to Health care and in particular to the

Health intervention of CHAI and its MIS with 84% located in remote rural/

tribal areas unreached by quality health care facility and services. CHAI should

network with other developmental organisations to achieve the Millennium

goals. Health understood as total well being is most relevant in this context.

IV. Lobby and Advocacy for equitable quality health care services.

Alter the role of CHAI - the central office from - being an implementation body to an

advocacy body -emerge as resourceful centre for proactive advocacy. The

organisation has to motivate, train and provide technical support to MIS to practice,

advocacy at grass root level. CHAI has to be the number one health trainer and

health educator by online courses, short term practical sessions and linkages to the

wealth of learning and training materials. Human resources to be based on Delhi has

become critical for regular liaison , net working and advocacy with national

government bodies Ministries of Health and Family welfare, Women and Child

Development and Social Justice and empowerment, UN partners and other Funding

agencies, International NGOs and other Civil Society Organisations media and

private sector stake holders.

V. Structural Strengthening

The regional unit need to have qualified and committed staff that has pure dedication

and devotion to the course. Each region should have a Office building and

infrastructure of its own. Member institutions can share a portion of their building

for this purpose. RU’s should be able to strengthen the Diocesan units on a mutual

and complementary basis. Following the principals of subsidiary - what can be

achieved at the lower level has to be achieved at that level. Most of the activities of

the central office can be transferred to Regional and diocesan Unit Strengthening of

the diocesan unit should be the major concern of CHAI as a part of strategic

planning. RU’s need to have ample relationship with the state health and the family

welfare ministry. RU’s has to net work with other agencies and take up projects at

State and District levels with the support of Diocesan Units.

VI. Revisiting CHAI’s Mission and Vision

CHAI uphold its commitment to bring health for all, it views health as a state of

complete physical mental social and spiritual well being and not merely absence of

sickness. In orders to realise the vision, CHAI endeavours to promot community

health, understood as a process of enabling the people especially the poor and the

marginalised, to be collectively responsible to attain and maintain their health and

demand health as a right and ensure availability of health care of reasonable quality

at reasonable cost. Most of our member institutions have not taken community health

seriously. CHAI as part of its Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Should suggest the

tertiary care and secondary care hospitals to start community health departments

only through community health programmes we can achieve our vision.

VII. CHAI Knowledge Centre

CHAI should become a provider of objective, up to date and relevant information

about health care in India to whoever asks for such information. This will provide

Direction and content to the Health movement in the country. The proposed

knowledge centre should be able of generating information, storing information and

disseminating in formation. Generate information by well planed scientific research

programmes, collect, tabulate, analyze and interpret relevant data from secondary

sources and organise a comprehensive data base for all health care facilities available

in India particularly about our member institutions. Document innovative

programmes of Health delivery operating in different part of the world. Which may

be used as models for us to emulate stored information without facilitates

dissemination is to be treated as waste of resources. Hence the need of strengthening

the Health action Magazine and be accessed online as well as in hard copies.

VIII. Strengthening the Central Office

Currently CHAI works in the domain of Community Health, Communicable diseases

non-communicable diseases, Maternal and Child health interventions and Health

advocacy . Here after CHAI should do mainly advocacy and the regional units should

enforce or bring out functions. Central CHAI should look into national and

international organisations to imbibe advocacy skill in an attempt to mobilise funds

for the development of CHAI and its regional units . The central offices shall provide

all the support that is needed by the regional units, for better implementation of the

programmes. This shall ensure the growth of not only the central unit but it shall

also ensure stability in the regional unit.

IX. Management Information System

The Catholic Health Association of India has now grown into one of the world’s

largest Non-governmental Associations in the health sector with an expansive

network over 3410 member institutions operating through 11 regional units across the

country with 183 tertiary care Hospital 417 secondary care hospitals and 2263

primary care centres 121 social service societies 120 nursing Schools and colleges,

150 HIV/AIDS centers and 52 leprosy centres etc with over 1000 Sister -Doctors

25000 Sister-Nurses and 10,000 plus Para professionals.

One limitation we observe is that we don’t have the consolidated figures of what

we do and what our capacities in doing. No quantified data from member institutions

for the government and health Policy advisors and researchers to take not of

Community health department of CHAI has a history of several intervention all over

the country. The strength of CHAI is being under reported or not projected

adequately.

A decentralised approach is necessary in this context. We need to quickly embark

upon a MIS system of compilation of our out puts in health services sector for each

state and at national level for any government official to take us seriously.

X. Become part of the Health Movement

The association look forward to the next five years, leading to its Platinum Jubilee

year as a period of reinventing itself by revisiting its original mandate, vision and

mission in the context of a vastly change national and global scenario ; these five

years will be a period of innovation and re-positioning in the context of CHAI’s

national relevance. There are many public health movement that CHAI should

become part of and even lead. These include a great initiative by WHO to

consolidate the strength global health work force. This is an area were CHAI can play

a significant role. There are also a number of other focused thematic movement with

which the CHAI play a complementary and mutually reinforcing role. Jubilee is a

time to bring together all people of good will in as many way as possible. In 2000

CHAI was one of the twelve national organisations to organise National People’s

Assembly held in Calcutta and later an International Assembly held in Dacca,

Bangladesh. The assembly discuss in details the theme “Health for all by 2000”

propose by World Health Organisation. The discussion was mainly focused on why

we were not able to provide Health for all by 2000AD. There was a detailed

discussion regarding the future course of action also. But somehow it was not

followed up. And I think CHAI can take the initiative to revamp the process as a part

of its platinum Jubilee celebration.

Response to Strategic Planning

Golden Jubilee – Golden Harvest- Blue Book

Strategic Planning Discussion Paper a good initiative, Lot a concept & Ideas / How do we

strategise is the critical question.

Many ideas are already proposed in the course of CHAI history. It is not knew but

somehow be were not able to implement. Here is the relevance of strategic plan

A. From Catholic Hospital Association to Catholic Health Association the significance of

this change of name is yet to be reflected in its full implications in the functioning of the

association.

The association continues to be one that serves the membership rather than one plays

its leadership role.

B. Health as Human rights

Right to Health came as a fundamental right may be taken as one of the basic reasons

behind our efforts towards strategic planning gearing towards the re-positioning of CHAI

central Office

C. Perspective of Millennium development goals

CHAI should net work nationally and Internationally to achieve the millennium goals of

UN these concern are very much related to Health care

D. Lobby and advocacy of Equitable quality Health Care services

Alter the role of CHAI the Central office from being an implementation body to an

advocacy body emerged as a research center for pro active advocacy and health trainers

role.

E. Management Information System

CHAI has now grown into one of the world’s largest non-governmental organisation in

the health sector one limitation we observe is that we don’t have consolidated figures of

what we do and what our capacity in doing no quantified data from member institutions

for the government and health policy advisors and researchers to take not of

F. Structural Strengthening

The regional units need to have qualified committed staff that has pure dedication and

devotion to the cause. Each region should have an office building and infrastructure of

its own . RU’s should be able to strength the Diocesan unit on a mutual and

complementary basis.

G. Revisiting CHAI’s Vision and Mission

It views health as a state of complete Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual well being

and not merely absence of sickness. In order to realise the vision CHAI endeavours to

promote community health understood as a process of enabling the people especially the

poor and marginalised to be collectively responsible to attain and maintain their health

and demand health as a right and ensure availability of health care of reasonable quality

at reasonable coast (Community health dept in our hospital)

H. CHAI knowledge Centre

CHAI should become a provider of objective up to date and relevant information about

health care in India who ever asks for such information. This will provide direction and

content to the Health movement in the country. The proposed knowledge centre should

be able to generate information store information and disseminating information.

I. Strengthening the central Office

Currently CHAI works in the domains of community Health, Communicable Diseases,

Non communicable Diseases Maternal and Child health interventions and health

advocacy. Here after CHAI should do mainly advocacy and the regional unit should

enforce or bring out functions. Centre CHAI should look into national and international

Organisations to imbibe advocacy skills in an attempt to mobilise funds for the

development of CHAI and the regional units.

J. Became part of the health movement

In the contexts of a vastly changed national and global scenario. These five years with a

period of innovation and repositioning in the context of CHAI’s national relevance. There

are many public Health movement that CHAI should became part of and even lead

Jubilee is a time to bring together all people of good will in as many way possible . In

2000 CHAI was one of the twelve national organisations to organise National People’s

Assembly and a major partner in the international meet held in Dacca, Bangladesh. CHAI

can take the initiative revamp the process as a part of its Platinum Jubilee Celebration.

Dr. Nevin Wilson, Regional Director, The Union, India

Determination and passion will succeed and produce tangible results.

Submission to God is a priority.

TB control efforts of Union is an example that can be emulated.

Covers a broad spectrum of health and education

6 points:

a) Innovation is very important. Poorly funded public health, get linked to

performance measuring

b) Focus of advocacy should be the education of the poor

c) Prioritize the capacities of the organization

d) Pay attention to quality, analysis and based on evidence to form policy

e) Work through network and collaborative ventures

f) Empower human resources within the organization

I would like to draw the attention of the CHAI leadership to the following 6 strategic principles

which should underpin your planning:

1. Innovation in the delivery of public health programmes and projects. This calls attention

to the context in which CHAI works - poorly funded public health services that are often

most difficult to access for the most disadvantaged, a large and mostly unregulated

private sector that is not accountable to the community, poverty and inequity. Your

strategic plan must be linked to performance metrics and time milestones which will help

you to monitor progress.

2. A focus on advocacy, communication and community mobilisation. CHAI also represents

the Church and the body of believers in the country and must position itself to drive

issues and actions that imperil the health and education of the poor and the vulnerable

using modern technology and strategic communication

3. Prioritise capacity within the organisation for core functions. This calls for the highest

benchmarks and standards for professionals with opportunities provided to different

levels and cadres of staffing to learn and practice technical skills with attention to quality

4. Embed a culture of operational research into all of your programming. This calls for

attention to good supervision, collection and collation of validated data, a culture of

analysis and querying and the use of evidence to inform policy, planning and

implementation

5. Work through networks and partnerships that strengthen the community that is served

6. Empower human resources in the organisation to contribute with commitment and

dedication. This calls attention to the singular additional value that CHAI brings to the

table - your motto which reads "the love of Christ compels us'.

Long years ago, the prophet Jeremiah, writing to the exiles conveys God's promise to them in

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". I believe that this promise of God

holds as true today for CHAI as it did then.

I would like to place on record my thanks to Fr Tomi Thomas and his wonderful team for

providing me with the opportunity to contribute today to this planning exercise and am confident

that CHAI will continue to serve the poor with love in the years to come.

Dr. Piet Reijer, Consultant, Misereor, Germany

Very good document

Take some examples from Africa – the role played by the Christian Health Network there

Think of the different groups with different interests

Collaboration with government is crucial though difficult

Look at medical ethics

Strategic plan should be able to adjust and change any time

30 years is too long. So be able to make changes on the way

Union is Strength and the strength of union is collaboration

Comments on the Strategic Plan documents

1. First of all I want to thank the organizing committee most sincerely for the invitation.

2. Reading the various documents I wondered at a certain moment for whom the strategic plan was

meant at the end of the day, i.e. CHAI as an organization, or the CHAI membership? In the final

document this will have to be very clear and I think that the membership should have the first

priority. However, as the membership is so diverse, it will be very difficult to give strategic

directions that will satisfy all.

3. One of the documents mentioned the plan to have staff stationed in Delhi. I strongly support this

idea as we have seen in the last two years with the Misereor project how important lobby and

advocacy activities are. The main task of the Delhi staff should be this Lobby and Advocacy.

4. Sr Dr Aquinas Edassery mentioned in her contribution that there is no future for the FBO health

sector without collaboration. A strong argument for the work already undertaken and for the

employment in Delhi.

5. An important point that was raised in the documents was the question of surviving in the current

situation. Competition in the health sector is not desired and the MIs should never end up

performing unethical practices. It is understood that many of the MIs go though hard times, but

we should stick to our ethical and moral values at all times.

6. “Union gives strength”, true, but a newer and more up-to-date version could be “Union and

Collaboration gives strength”

Ms. Rowena McNally, Chair, Catholic Health Australia

Lack of nurses is a problem in Australia, India has more of it

Network and collaborate – negotiate with others

Improve governance

Dr. Sioban Nelson, Vice-Provost, Academic Programs, University of Toronto, Canada

Congratulations! A commendable document

Issues are complex

It is more than a document

Opportunity for training – top-down approach is not OK

What is the singular identity of CHAI? Identify and improve

Need to be nimble and respond fast to issues

Define healthcare issues in India

Vision, mission & strategy

Have measurable goals/objects

Participatory approach is appreciated

Strategic planning is a vital part of an organization’s growth and development. It is one of the

few times that you call upon all members to both dream and to be pragmatic.

The value of strategic planning to an organization is not only the road map that it creates, but the

process of creating it (Father Julius’ Miracle of Unity). It is a process that generates a singular

identity, and it demands of all member organizations or stakeholders that they reflect on the

relationship between the members and the centres.

A Strategic Plan demands an organization struggle with the proposition that its sum must be

greater than its constituent parts – and what is it that defines the centre’s identity beyond its

members?, as well reflect on how the organization benefits the members and propels their

individual organizations’ strategic goals.

In a large decentralized organization such as CHAI clarity over the question that Strat Planning

must address is of how each member gains in the creation of an organization that exceeds the

bounds of their individual and even collective mandates.

Furthermore, a successful overarching organization must be nimble and responsive to changing

circumstances in ways that multiple small units cannot be. But at the same time it is only with a

strong strategic plan that the central office has a mandate to respond and innovate.

For CHAI all of these issues are of paramount importance and were reflected in the presentations

of the CHAI team on Friday.

Ideas such as CHAI focusing on knowledge brokering, information exchange, IT platforms and

data generation and manipulation all make a great deal of sense. In this way, CHAI can make the

large member organizations more efficient and support smaller members to advance. The need to

produce data, fulfill quality and accountability requirements in healthcare and use data to

improve quality and drive decision making is a major trend in health care management.

Moreover, CHAI has the opportunity to not only protect itself from audit and accountability

requirements now and into the future, it has the chance to lead and innovate in this area

especially in community health and social care, and demonstrate impact – the latter is essential

for sustained funding. I know you have already made some strides in this area and so it is

important that this be an early goal in the strat plan – that way you can confidently plan to

deliver outcomes and meet goals in the short term.

Strat Plans involve 4 elements: vision, mission, values and strategy.

Mission and values dominate as themes in your discussion paper. This is no surprise in your

organization, but it is also common in secular organizations. The next step from that is vision.

Vision is hard because it requires consensus on priorities and you can do anything but you can’t

do everything. Therefore keeping everyone aligned on a strong and focused vision can be a

challenge in a multifaceted and decentralized organization like CHAI. But it is worth it. It will

take people out of their comfort zone and challenge them that they can’t just keep doing what

they’ve always done.

Vision needs to address BIG questions: What will CHAI be synonymous with in 10 years? What

will it represent at its centenary? I admire you tackling such a long vision. But I do think you

need to put a stake in the ground soon to define CHAI’s vision. I heard a few possibilities:

Leadership – especially the leadership of women.

Innovation

Advocacy

Prevention and community care

Quality standards (accreditation?)

Size – it seems that you do currently define yourself by your size and reach. It is very impressive.

Is that something that you want to build on?

Once the vision is nailed down the goals should be measurable – SMART goals are really useful

and they hold people’s feet to the fire by getting their commitment to do the work. A strat plan

fails it doesn’t garner that commitment..

My final point is that the plan you shared to roll out the discussion paper and engage the

membership over a sustained time (5 years) tells me that you are considering fundamental

change – something on the scale of moving into community health or focusing on education and

professional development and accreditation.

It may be that you could develop a number of categories of members or categories of

accreditation to help some of the more at risk organizations transition.

I am reminded of the story of the establishment of the American Catholic Hospitals Association.

A brilliant leader – a Jesuit if I recall - saw what was coming down the river with the Flexner

Report and how it was going to fundamentally change medical education and the way hospitals

appointed their medical staff. Nursing education followed not long afterwards. He led the

establishment of the association bringing American Catholic healthcare into the 20th

century.

Like India some of the best hospitals and schools in the US were Catholic, but also some of the

worst. The German and other smaller immigrant community hospitals in the Midwest were

running very small operations with poorly trained staff and minimal equipment etc. It was

impossible for them to be able to meet the requirements that were not yet in place but definitely

coming. But as an organization they faced the possibility of the destruction of Catholic

healthcare unless they proactively seized the transformative agenda for themselves. They made

the transition and Catholic hospitals took on the challenge rather than being forced to do by the

government. It was a big turning point. I find this story has many resonances with what I learned

about CHAI at this meeting.

I wish you all the best, and as I mentioned I see so many strat plans in my role so if you would

like to send it to me as it evolves I’d be happy to give you feedback on the document.

Lunch Break

Fr.Vattamattom thanked all the responders. After the responses, Dr. Piet Reijer made a small

presentation on a book by Misereor on ‘3 Community Care Centers’

Regional Presentations of Activity Reports:

Sr. Cassia moderated over the regional units’ report presentations from six regional units. The

gist of the presentations by way of important areas of interventions and involvements by the

regional units are presented below:

WBCHA

RNTCP – collaboration with the government

Awareness programs in general and specific to communicable diseases

DMC Lab

ANC/PNC

Health & Sanitation programs

Free health check-ups

Adolescent programs – capacity building

Observation of important days

PHC Services

HIV/AIDS awareness & treatment – ART

Treatments of many kinds of fevers

OCHA

Profile – Formation in 1981, is registered and has 143 members

Implementation of the project for Community Empowerment in Sanitation & Nutrition

Improvement, MCH/RCH services are organized in 320 villages

Adolescent girls’ groups/ ANC/PNC & provision of MCH services

Homemade Horlicks – school health

Workshop on RCH

Training in IMNCI

Treatment of acute malnourishment

TB & Diabetes awareness cum screening

CHAT

NRHM collaboration

Curative services

IEC on ANC/PNC

Monthly meeting in villages

Improve access to PHC

Axshya implemented in 10 Districts

Networking and collaboration and participating in network programs

Training and capacity building

Various local meetings and governance related meetings

HIV/AIDS awareness

CHAKE

Synergy conference

Eco-friendly healthcare

Golden Jubilee celebrations

Summit of Kerala Catholic Healthcare institutions

SWOT analysis

Common purchase system has been organized and set up

Purchase through website

The VAT issue in the case of central purchase, has been taken up for dialogue with the

government

70 year related activities

Diabetes and screening

CHAI Day

Axshya programs

CHAKA

HIV/AIDS convention

20th

AGBM

Camillian Centre opens

CHAI Day

70th

year celebrations

Axshya & CBCI-CARD programs

ASM training

CHAAP

Community health for poor – SC/ST in focus

Decentralized implementation of programs

PPTCT & ICTC programs

Project review and planning

70th

year related activities

Reports from the following five regional units were presented after the teabreak and was

moderated over by Sr. Alphonse Sebastian. The salient points from the presentations were as

follows:

RUPCHA

Profile – Is registered and has own office & staff. Has 250 MIs.

Five organizational development related programs were conducted.

Consultative meetings at the regional level were organized.

Project review meetings with governing board were conducted.

Evaluation of projects were undertaken.

Cluster visits to Axshya project areas were regularly organized.

Advocacy related network programs were jointly organized with NGOs & FBOs.

Human resource development programs for the staff were arranged.

The statistical data of services rendered & activities organized by the members have also

been presented to the national general body.

NECHA

Vision/Mission.

Awareness generation programs in general.

AGBM conducted.

Malaria control program in 10 villages are being organized.

Assistance to and special programs for differently abled children.

Kitchen garden are promoted.

Network with government in the implementation of the NRHM is successfully underway.

Control of communicable diseases

CHAW

Reach the unreached

Counseling

Health insurance

Retreats

Health education

Follow-up of community healthcare and access to PHC

Proposals for next year

TB control programs

Community meetings

Mid-media, IEC Trainings

Reviews

Sputum collection and transportation

PPTCT & ICTC

CHAMP

Service of the poor

Prevention of TB, Malaria, Cholera, etc

Axshya project programs

Networking & collaboration with local NGOs

Capacity building programs

Sensitization & IEC programs

All-round awareness programs

Training of CBOs & NGOs

Counseling services

Rural health also school health

Collaboration with NRHM

Sanitation programs & general health education

CHABIJAN

Community empowerment programs

People’s health in people’s hands

Kitchen garden, nutrition trainings

Advocacy

Promoting network

Promoting ASM

Strengthening PHCs

Meetings of communities and promotion of herbal medicines

Observations of various days

DOT programme and TB Control

The day’s programs and sessions were concluded with a fitting evening hour in honour of Sr. Dr.

Mary Glowry, Servant of God. The eventful evening had a breathtaking cultural program

performed by St. John’s & St. Philomina’s nursing students as well as children from Snehadan

and Santhwan, besides a unique orchestra played by children with disabilities.

A biopic of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowry was shown. Thereafter, the former Presidents and Directors of

CHAI were felicitated as follows:

Presidents

Sr. Martin Maliekal JMJ

Sr. Mercy Abraham RGS

Sr. Cletus Daisy JMJ

Directors

Fr. John Vattamattom SVD

Fr. James Culas

Concluding the day, Sr. Sarah, Vice-President of CHAKA, proposed a vote of thanks and with

that the day’s proceedings came to an end.

Cultural Evening

A Cultural Evening in honour of

Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey, Servant of

God and Founder of CHAI was

conducted in the evening of 25

October. Dr J Alexandar IAS

(Retd), Former Chief Secretary

and Former Cabinet Minister for

Tourism, Karnataka, was the chief

guest on the occasion.

The evening was made memorable by the screening of a biopic on Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey and

release of her short biography written by Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas by Sr Martin Maliekal, JMJ.

The evening was made delightful by a series of cultural events performed by the staff, students

and children of Sandep Seva Nilayam, Swanthana, St. Martha’s Hospital, St. Philomena’s

Hospital and St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences.

Day 2, Saturday 26th

October 2013

The Business Session

Fr. Julius Arakal presided over the Business Session of the 70th

AGBM which started with a

prayer song sung by Sr. Mabel. Then Fr. Julius led the recitation of the Novena of Sr. Dr. Mary

Glowrey. Then he told the story of a boy with a kite and an elder, to stress the ‘pull’ factor of

being there, being involved, etc. The Agenda was passed when Sr. Ritty proposed to pass the

agenda which was seconded by Sr. Priti and the house passed the agenda unanimously.

Ratification of nominees to the board from the regions took place as follows:

Fr. Dominic from CHAW

Fr. Thankaswamy from CHAT and

Sr. Lucy JMJ from CHAAP

Thereafter, the Secretary Sr. Deena read the minutes of the previous (69th

) AGBM held at

Renewal Centre, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala.

After the reading, the minutes were open to the floor for comments, feedback or clarifications.

Sr. Dr. Lillian corrected her name as the founder of SDFI instead of being named as Sr. Julian.

Proposed by Sr. Marita and seconded by Sr. Sunam, the minutes were passed.

Presentation of Annual Report by Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas

First of all, he acknowledged the presence of Misereor representatives Ms. Kesuma Saddak Dr.

Piet Reijer and Ms Wenke Hansen.

Special thanks were offered to Karnataka Unit, particularly its President Fr. Joseph Ayamkudy,

and the CHAI Board member from the region Fr. Mathew Perumpil.

The major activities were presented under the following heads:

World AIDS Day

Health and Healing Week

CHAI Inclusive Sports Meet

Women’s Day Celebrations

World TB Day

CHAI’s 70th

Foundation Day

CHAI Health Insurance Scheme

Solar Energy Initiatives

Vitamin Angels & Vitamin A support to MIs

Americares India Foundation

CHAI clinic and telemedicine

CHAI Snehakiran

CHAI community college (presently discontinued on account of the government’s

withdrawal)

Nurse practitioners and geriatric courses

Internship placements

Christian Coalition for Health in India (CCHI)

E-news publication

Social Workers’ Association of India (SWAI)

CHAI Children’s Club

Stress was laid on the need to pool data, update and share the same with the regional

offices and the central office.

CHAI is going to set up a ‘Sr. Dr. Mary Glowry Knowledge Centre’

Special ECOSOC Socio-consultative status has been accorded to CHAI

Associate membership of the UNION also was accorded to CHAI

Presentation of Annual Accounts

Sr. Sneha, the Treasurer, presented the audited statements of accounts for the financial year

2012-13.

The balance sheet was presented first.

Then the income expenditure statement was read out.

After that the consolidated statement of receipts and payments was presented.

The general administration budget for the coming period of 2013-14 was the next item

presented.

After the presentation of the accounts and budget, it was opened to the floor for comments and

clarifications. After that these documents were unanimously passed as given under.

Accounts – proposed by Sr. Dominic and seconded by Sr. Rose

Budget – proposed by Sr. Jesmitha and seconded by Sr. Fatima

Appointment of Auditors for the financial year (2013-14)

Since the present auditors were doing satisfactorily, the President proposed that the same

auditors, Leo Amal Raj & Associates may be re-appointed as auditors of CHAI for the financial

year 2013-14 and the house unanimously agreed to re-appoint M/s. Leo Amalraj & Associates as

auditors of CHAI for the 2013-14.

The President thanked the outgoing board members, 1) Sr. Jayasheela & 2) Fr. Mathew

Perumpil.

The business session of CHAI 70th

AGBM came to an end with a vote of thanks by Sr. Cassia,

the 1st Vice-president.

The Solemn Eucharistic celebration on the Second Day

The holy mass started with a very

ceremonial procession with 70 nursing

students leading in front of the Priests and

Bishops. Archbishop Bernard Moras was

the chief celebrant and Archbishop Vincent

M. Concessao along with Bp. Joseph

Arumachadath concelebrated besides 20

odd priests.

In the beginning, the main celebrant

blessed the Bible which had been brought

ceremonially earlier and placed on its stand. In his introduction, Archbishop Moras

congratulated CHAI for its 70 years of service in the health sector sharing the message health &

wholeness with a preferential option for the poor throughout the length and breadth of India.

In his homily, Archbishop Bernard Moras recalled the 2 readings especially the incident of Jesus

healing the 10 leprosy affected people out of whom only one came back to thank. CHAI is the

largest healthcare network in the country after the government.

The Lord came to give life both spiritual and physical. We are called upon to share this life with

the needy with dedication and commitment. Healthcare is the crucial need of every person and

care needs to be wholistic. In a commercialized health sector, the not for profit services,

rendered by the FBOs in the health sector, for the poor, stands out as a great example of

following the Christian ideology.

The offertory was preceded by the ‘Poorna Kumbam’ ritual.

The Public Function

Started at 11:45 a.m. with the

Archbishop of Bangalore His

Grace Bernard Moras, presiding

over with Archbishop Vincent M.

Concessao and Bp. Joseph

Arumachadath seated on either

side. Mr. KJ George, Hon’ble

Minister for Home, Government

of Karnataka, the Chief Guest for the occasion, joined the dignitaries on the stage, sometime later

during the function. Other dignitaries on the stage were:

Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas, Director-General, CHAI

Sr. Cletus Daisy, JMJ, Convenor

Ms. Kesuma Saddak, Programme Officer, Misereor,

Fr. Julius Arakal, CHAI President

Fr. Jose Ayamkudy, President, CHAKA

Fr. Joseph Manipadam, Secretary, CBCI Office for Education and Culture

Msgr. Lourde Swamy, Coordinator, Karnataka Regional Pastoral Plan

Dr. Sioban Nelson, Vice Provost, Academic Programs, University of Toronto,Canada

The dignitaries were led by the Archbishops and Bp. Joseph in lighting the lamp.

Sr. Cletus Daisy delivered the welcome address in the capacity of the Convener of the 70th

year

celebrations. She talked about the eye donation program and the launch of the Children’s Health

Club and the Social Workers’ Association of India.

The nursing students honoured the dignitaries with sprouting bamboo plants.

Archbishop Moras delivering the presidential address congratulated CHAI for the 70 years of

services rendered. The 70th

year celebration by CHAI has the objective of honoring its

founderess Sr. Dr. Mary Glowry on the occasion of her having been declared a Servant of God

by the Church. CHAI can be proud of the yeoman service being rendered by its members in the

unreached villages of India, even facing a lot of challenges.

CHAI has to take up the challenge of collaborating with the government and tapping their funds

as well as collaborate with the other like-minded NGOs.

Presentation of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey Awards

The following were the award winners:

Sr. Dr. Dominic Maria, FCC in the Doctors’ Category. Award was presented by Most

Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bengaluru.

Sr. Annie Mathew, SCJM in the Nurses’ Category. Award was presented by Sr. Carol

Keehan, President, Catholic Health, USA.

Sr. Annie Sebastian, SMI in the Social Workers’ Category. Award was presented by

Ms. Rowena McNally, President, Catholic Health, Australia.

Sr. Innocent, SMI in the ASM Category. The award was presented by Ms. Freida

Chavez, Director, Gloabal Affairs, University of Toronto, Canada.

The launch of CHAI Children’s Health Club was the next item on the schedule and was done by

Fr. Joseph Manipadam (Commission for Education and Culture of CBCI-CHAI as a joint

venture). Fr. Joseph also explained the core contents of the program.

Bishop Joseph launched the program on the LCD Screen and said he was very happy to be part

of this public function and saluted the Sisters who are working in the rural areas of India and also

the earlier and present leaders of CHAI.

Archbishop Vincent Concessao launched the Social Workers’ Association (SWAI). The aim is to

bring about change in society for which SWAI brings Catholic Social Workers together on one

single platform.

Dr. Sioban Nelson of University of Toronto also spoke while Ms. Kesuma Sadak of Misereor

addressing the gathering recommended that a Sister becomes the Director-General of CHAI.

Fr Julius, President of CHAI, said that the Executive Board meeting held 3 days ago already

decided that the next Director-General will be a woman religious. He requested the gathering to

find a suitable person.

Fr. George Kannanthanam talked about eye donation campaign and said that it was special

mission for Jesus also, “Lord if you want you can make me see” and Jesus said, “I want”.

Mr. KJ George, Minister for Home, Karnataka, the Chief Guest, came in at this juncture and took

his seat on the stage between the two Archbishops. Mr. KJ George addressed the gathering. He

felt sad that he was caught up with other engagements that made him come late. He quoted from

CHAI documents and said that having 1000

Doctors, 25000 Sister Nurses & 10000

paramedics is a very high level of human

resource. Then concluding his talk, he read out

the pledge for donation of eyes after one’s death,

and was repeated by the participants.

Thereafter, the Minister, released the CHAI 70th

year Souvenir and presented the first copy to

Archbishop Bernard Moras.

Then Fr. Jose Ayamkudi proposed a vote of thanks while mementos were presented to all the

dignitaries and with that all the programs of the 70th

AGBM of CHAI came to an end.

Reported by:

Sebastian Kunnath & Rupcha team