CHAI celebrates 70th anniversary

The program will also celebrate its founder Sr. Mary Glowrey being named as a ‘Servant of God'.

Bangaluru:  The Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI), world’s largest non-profit associations in the health sector, is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

The two-day celebrations would start Friday at the St. John’s National Academy of health Sciences in Bengaluru.

The program will also celebrate its founder Sr. Mary Glowrey being named as a ‘Servant of God’, the first step to be made a Saint.

Some 1,000 health care providers from its member institutions are expected to attend the celebraitons, said a CHAI a press statement.

A strategic discussion paper would be unveiled during the two-day program which will focus on the future thrusts of members of the organization in the field of mental health, geriatric care, palliative care and non-communicable diseases.

“The 70th anniversary has been made memorable with CHAI being given Special Consultative Status by the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council,” the statement said.

CHAI, founded in 1943, has 3,412 member institutions as members, whicih include 2,263 health centers.

Every year, around 21 million people access health care facilities provided by CHAI’s member institutions across the country.

The program would see the launching of two special initiatives of CHAI-- Children’s Health Club and Social Workers’ Association of India.