KOCHI: The upcoming activities of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) will focus on palliative care, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy of Life at the Vatican, told the media on the sidelines of the 47th national convention and the annual general body meeting of the association which got under way here on Saturday.CHAI has initiated talks with Pallium India for cooperation in this sector. “Globally, the “Pontifical Academy of Life is also taking an initiative to make palliative care available for those who require it,” said Paglia.
“The academy is joining hands with other religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Talks are in progress to bring in Hinduism also. An international conference on palliative care organised by the academy will take place in February in Italy.”The two-day event at Rajagiri Vidyapeeth was inaugurated by Paglia heading a Vatican delegation. It carries the theme ‘Identity, Harmonise, Optimise’. There will be sessions in five categories - hospital directors and administrators, superiors, provincials and
counsellors, health centres, community health workers and social workers, carecentres and doctors. Those who have rendered exceptional service as senior doctor, senior nurse, senior social worker and ordinary staff will be honoured at the conference. Around 800 delegates from different parts of the country are participating in the event.
CHAI director general Dr Mathew Abraham explained the agenda of the conference.
The association’s Kerala ecclesiastical advisor Bishop Mar George Njaralakkatt released the 2016-17 annual report while Rajagiri Engineering College director Fr Jose Alex Oruthayapalli released the convention directory. KCBC Health Commission chairman Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala presented the theme of the convention and CHAI Kerala president Fr Thomas Vaikathuparampil proposed the vote of thanks.