The Commission on Justice and Solidarity in the World of Health (CJSWH) held its first Asian regional conference on July 3-4, 2008 at the Camillian Home for Disabled Children in Bangkok, Thailand.  The different CJSWH heads in Asia and Australia attended the gathering.  Those who attended from the Philippine Province were Fr. Giovanni Rizzi (Taiwan), Fr. Jojo Eloja (Australia), Fr. Charly Ricafort (Philippines) and Fr. Aristelo Miranda (Philippines).

The conference opened with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Fr. Rocco Pairat Sriprasert, MI, the Vice-Provincial of Thailand. The conference participants and the Camillian Hospital employees were present at the celebration.

In the conference, Fr. Aris Miranda presented the CJSWH concept paper and the plan of action approved by the Generalate Comission on Justice and Solidarity in the World of Health.

After the presentation, the convenors discussed Camillian witnessing in the world of health.  This highlighted the presentation of the different responses being carried out in the participants’ respective countries.  Promotion of health, justice for the elderly, aboriginal inequality, justice for migrant workers, sex trade, palliative care for end-stage AIDS patients, and legalized abortion were among the issues tackled in the reports.

Fr. Charly Ricafort, who was elected secretary of the conference, collated the results of the CJSWH plans for 2008-2010 in the areas of formation, promotion, networking and advocacy.

On his return to the Philippines, Fr. Charly reported the minutes of the conference to the CJSWH Philippines.  He also re-echoed it to the scholastics last July 26, 2008.

CJSWH Philippines is currently crafting a syllabus on health and social justice using Scriptures, social doctrine, and Camillian literature as resources. Posters on the patient’s rights are also in the making and upon completion will be distributed to our health care institutions. These undertakings are carried out in partial fulfillment of the plans of CJSWH in the Asian region.