CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF INDIA (CBCI)

http://www.cbcisite.com/

The Catholic Church in India, organised under the umbrella of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has 152 archdioceses / diocese. These are further divided into 6,277 parishes. There are over 300 religious, congregations with more than a hundred thousand priests and religious and the laity, actively involved in social, education and health and healing ministries. CBCI has 13 Commissions dealing with different sectors, of which the Commission for Health Care is one which has taken up Community Care Centres in five northern states of India.

The Catholic Church has 746 hospitals, 2574 dispensaries, 70 rehabilitations centres, 107 centres for mental health care, 61 centres for alternative system of medicine, 162 non-formal health facilities and 115 medical training centres which include 6 medical colleges. Along with this there are 165 leprosy centres, 416 health care centres for the aged, 62 centres for tuberculosis (TB), the terminally ill, 67 Community Care Centres (CCC) for PLHAs and 60 counselling centres.

The Health Sector Organisations of Catholic Church are:-

· Caritas India is the official national organisation of the CBCI for social concern and human development. Caritas India is a network organisation with 152 local counterparts that include Diocesan Social Service Societies (DSSS) and NGO partners.

· Diocesan Social Service Societies are program implementing organisations (Reg. Societies) of each of the respective dioceses working to coordinate and implement the various activities of the church in its social ministry.

· The Catholic Health Association of India is one of the World’s largest non-governmental organisations in the health sector with nearly 3,226 member institutions, which include big, medium and small hospitals, health centres and Diocesan Social Services Societies.

· Sister Doctor Forum of India is a society comprising of approximately 800 Sister Doctors across India.

· Catholic Nurses Guild of India (CNGI) is an Organisation formed by CBCI in 1956 for inspiration, animation and coordination among Catholic Nurses in the country. It is presently active in 155 nursing colleges and schools across the country in addition to many of the 746 Catholic Hospitals. The present National Ecclesiastical Adviser to CNGI is Fr.Tomy K MCBC, who was an India CCM Member and is currently the Chairperson of Technical Resource Group – CCC under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). CBCI is an Sub-Recipient (SR) to Indian Nursing Council (INC) for nurses training under Round 7 and the project is implemented by CNGI.