Holy Father Pope Francis in his “Misericordiae Vultus” (Face of Mercy) exhorts all of us to contemplate and practise Mercy like “Jesus Christ who is the face of Father’s Mercy.” During the Year of Mercy, the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) is launching two projects to facilitate the spirit of compassionate care towards  poor families and elderly in our parishes and institutions.

Project Santhwana (Health Insurance for the Poor):

There is enough evidence to prove that medical expenses are pushing people into debt. From this year CHAI is extending  its existing Health Insurance Programme to all the parishes and educational institutions. Each family can do an act of mercy towards a poor family in the parish by investing Rs 3500/- providing annual health insurance coverage for 1 lakh rupees.  Each Parish Priest may motivate at least 10 families in the parish to become part of this initiative and support 10 poor families.

We also appeal to institutions, provinces and dioceses to do a similar act of mercy towards their own employees and their families.

Project Shraddha (Care of the Elderly):

India has the second highest population — 100 million – of elderly people in the world.  Ninety per cent of them lack official social security and they continue to work for survival. Religious sisters in the parish, in collaboration with lay doctors, nurses and volunteers, can organize Elderly Care Clinics (to monitor health status, BP, sugar level, etc,) after the Sunday Mass as well as undertake referral services, if required. Home visits could be made to those elderly confined to home. This could become a regular practice in the parish.

These projects are being launched on  February 11, 2016 on World Day of the Sick.

For details, please contact Mr.K.P.Chackappan, National Coordinator, (Mobile 9945554725, e-mail idchackappan-peter@chai-india.org).