PM Modi Thanks Christian Health Body’s Support to Tackle Covid-19

By Verghese V Joseph –

Responding to Christian Coalition’s offer to help the embattled nation to combat the novel (COVID-19) coronavirus crisis, Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi on Monday personally thanked Fr Mathew Abraham, President of Christian Coalition for Health (CCH) and Director General of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI).

During the conference call, Prime Minister noted that extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions, which was why even in this globalized era, most of the world had quarantined itself. This was an unavoidable step taken to fight this pandemic, but it was also hugely consequential, as the closure of the globalized system has had an extensive and far-reaching impact upon the international transport system, financial markets and the global economy.

Prime Minister said that India had taken unprecedented and early steps in response to this pandemic from mid-January this year, to reduce the risk of importing the infection, and thereafter to prevent a large outbreak. This included the world’s largest quarantine and lock-down, implemented by India.

The Christian Coalition for Health, which has over 1,000 hospitals and over 60,000 in-patient beds across the country, extended its support to the nation and Prime Minister Modi to overcome the novel coronavirus threat. In a letter to Prime Minister Modi on Thursday, the Coalition said hospitals in its network were already working with local authorities in many places.

The letter signed by President of CCH and Director General of the Catholic Health Association of India Fr Dr Mathew Abraham, General Secretary Christian Medical Association of India Dr. Priya John, and Executive Director of Emmanuel Hospital Association Dr. Sunil Gokavi said over the years member hospitals “have been providing quality care that is accessible, affordable, rational and compassionate, healthcare to all, especially people in the margins of the society.”

“Over the past weeks the member organisations have been holding coordinating meetings and webinars to help the hospitals for disaster preparedness for any eventuality of the spread of COVID-19 to the areas where the hospitals are situated,” a release from the CCH said.

Anuvinda Varkey, the Executive Director of CCH and Fr. George Kannanthanam, the National Secretary of Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) will co-ordinate with the government to ensure smooth and effective cooperation between authorities and network hospitals, the release said.

CCH is a coalition of Christian Healthcare networks of all different denomination of Christians in India. They are the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI), the Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI), Emmanuel Health Association (EHA) and the Christian Medical Colleges (CMC) of Vellore and Ludhiana. Focusing on the rural areas, the Christian healthcare institutions have been at the forefront of fighting various diseases like TB, leprosy, HIV, and among people with disabilities. Over 50,000 nuns, more than 1000 of them doctors, work in these hospitals.