Bahá’í World/Volume 18/The Establishment of the Bahá’í International Health Agency
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INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA‘I’ ACTIVITIES
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3. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AGENCY
MORE than fifty Bahá’ís who are health professionals in Canada, the United States and Chile were present in Ottawa, Canada, on 10—11 April 1982 when the Bahá’í International Health Agency was formally established. The creation of such an agency was recommended at the first Bahá’í International Conference on Health and Healing held in Ottawa in June 1980 under the sponsorship of the Association for Bahá’í Studies. The Hand of the Cause of God John A. Robarts was among those present at the April 1982 meeting which also was sponsored by the Association for Bahá’í Studies. Participants included medical doctors, nurses, counsellors, therapists, psychologists, social workers and medical students.
The proposal to create the agency was accepted by the executive committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, approved in principle by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and referred to the Universal House of Justice for its guidance. In approving the creation of a Bahá’í International Health Agency, the House of Justice stated: ‘The idea of a special group of Bahá’í health
professionals is a useful one, and for the time being it is quite sufficient to develop it as a section within the Association . . .’
The agency was established with a view to co-ordinating and encouraging research and education among Bahá’ís who are health professionals and others who are interested or who have knowledge in this area. The agency could well prove to be of assistance in helping to place Bahá’í health professionals in pioneering posts around the world.
Goals of the agency, as proposed in 1980 and confirmed at the April 1982 policy conference, include compiling a world directory of Bahá’ís who work in health-related professions, scientists and resources; organizing an international Bahá’í conference on health to be held every three years; publishing the proceedings of these conferences; and developing and distributing educational health programmes for children and adults in various countries and cultures. These programmes will be made available in written and audiovisual form for [use by Bahá’í radio stations, Bahá’í schools, Spiritual Assemblies and non-Bahá’í' entities.
The Hand of the Cause John Robarts (standing third from right) with participants in the inaugural meeting of the Bahá’í International Health Agency, Olmwa, Canada; 10 April 1982.