Catholic body institutes award to honor excellence in community health

A leading Christian non-governmental organisation has instituted a Lifetime Achievement award to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions in community health and institutional care.

The Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) instituted the 'Lifetime Achievement' award to "publicise innovative models" and "motivate persons to render devoted service" in the field of health care.

The CHAI award consists of a cash prize, a citation and a memento. The award will be presented at the Annual General Body Meeting of the association.

The nomination criteria stipulates that the person should have worked in a CHAI member institution for at least 10 years and must have been acknowledged in the health ministry for inspiring and mentoring others.

Not just that, the programme or service rendered by the individual must have been "innovative, original, bold, creative and self-sustaining", and must have made a difference to the beneficiaries or community it served.

The Award Selection Committee that includes the Director General of CHAI and two experts from the field of health care will scrutinize the nominations and select the awardee for the year.

Founded in the year 1943, the Catholic Health Association of India presently has a network of over 3200 health institutions as its members. That includes hospitals, health centres and diocesan social service societies.

Last year, following the Annual General Body Meeting held at Varanasi, the association decided to launch an insurance scheme for Catholic priests, nuns, religious and members of its institutions.

The insurance plan covers hospitalisation and treatment in any authorised health care institution, nursing home or hospital. Member hospitals of CHAI with 20 beds and above will become empanelled hospitals.

The scheme, to provide insurance cover to priests and religious, was announced keeping in mind the increase in private hospitals and medical cost.