Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh and Catholic Sabha Shirva Deanery unit jointly organized annual gathering and Manipal Arogya Suraksha Health card distribution at Shirva on 20 September, 2015.
Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Vinay Kumar Sorake, District in charge Minister and Minster for Urban Development, Dr. G. K. Prabhu, Registrar of Manipal University, U.T. Khadar, Health Minister Govt of Karnataka, Rev. Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Spiritual Director Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, Very Rev Fr. Stany Tauro Spiritual Director of Shirva Deanery Catholic Sabha, William Machado, Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh President. Elroy Kiran Crasto, Veronica Cornelio, President of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, Central committee immediate past President. Melwyn Aranha, President Shirva Deanery, Alice Rodrigues, Catholic Sabha Central Committee Secretary, Alwyn Quadros, Treasurer, Leena Machado, Shirva Deanary Secretary, Faustine D’Souza, Kallianpur, Karkala, Kundapura and Udupi Zone Presidents and Shirva Deanery unit presidents were present on the dais.
The Program Started with a Prayer song by Belman unit. Melwyn Aranha, President Shirva Deanery welcomed the gathering. Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo inaugurated the programme by lighting the deepa.
William Machado gave his keynote address. Veronica Cornelio gave statistics that last year 12,675 cards were distributed and this year under the leadership of Catholic Sabha distributed 13,064 cards, to about 95% of total Catholics in the diocese. The medical cover has increased from Rs.30000 to Rs.50000.
The elected Panchayat President Juliet Veera D’Souza Katpady Panchayat, David D’Souza of Mudarangady Panchayat and Jithendra Furtado were felicitated by Vinay Kumar Sorake who addressed the gathering and said that Christian community’s role in health sector is great and they see God in helping the downtrodden and needy. He remembered the services of Mother Theresa for the poorest of the poor. Christians are doing the work of God in order to help them. He also thanked Manipal University for the contribution to health.
U.T. Khadar inaugurated the Manipal Arogya Suraksha card and addressed the gathering and He said that Prevention is better than cure. More than 70% diseases can be prevented. We should take precaution and awareness on control of communicable diseases. Drinking clean water and keeping a balanced diet can control communicable diseases.
He further said that in order to get best health, state government with the private hospitals providing for BPL card holders teatement for eight major diseases. The patients will get this under Vajpaye Arogyashree project. APL card holders can also get health care facilities under Rajiv Arogya Bhagya Yojane.
Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo presided over and blessed the occasion. Dr. G. K. Prabhu Registrar of Manipal University, Zilla Panchayat member Ida Gibba D’Souza and Very Rev Fr. Stany Tauro Spiritual Director of Shirva Deanery Catholic Sabha spoke on the occasion.
Leena Machado gave vote of thanks. Gilbert Pinto and Anita D’Souza compered the programme. Catholic Sabha volunteers were present in large numbers during the convention.
