On March 6th 2015 the Pontifical Council for the Laity granted to CICIAMS a decree confirming its recognition as an international association of the faithful and approving its statutes. The International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS) has its origins in a meeting of Catholic nursing associations in Basle (Switzerland) in 1928, and was born as an association in Lourdes (France) in 1933. CICAMS has as its members national associations of nurses and health care workers across several continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas). Its work with the Holy See means it cooperates with the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. It is represented at several international institutions, including UNESCO and the World Health Organisation.
Handing over the pontifical decree to International President Sr. Anne John, Cardinal Rylko encouraged the presidency in its task of attracting new generations of nurses and health care workers to the beautiful and urgent task of being like Christ the Good Samaritan, a vocational task, a task of Christian witness to the dignity of life and a reminder of the necessity of placing the sick person at the heart of medical care, as its subject.
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International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical Social Assistants
OFFICIAL NAME
International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical Social Assistants
ACRONYM
CICIAMS (Comité International Catholique des Infirmières et Assistantes Médico-Sociales)
ESTABLISHED
1933
HISTORY
CICIAMS came into being in Lourdes, France, under the name “International Study Committee for Catholic Nurses’ Associations” following a meeting of delegates of Catholic nurses’ associations from different countries held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1928. As the number of members increased including not only nurses but other professionals in the medical and social fields, the Committee took its present name in 1946. It is recognised by the Holy See as an International Catholic Organisation, and is a member of the Conference of ICOs. As an NGO it has consultative status with the WHO, ILO, Unicef and the Council of Europe.
IDENTITY
CICIAMS encourages the establishment and development of Catholic professional associations in every country to provide nurses and medical/social workers with spiritual and moral support, and updated specialised training; it coordinates the initiatives that Catholic professional associations launch in order to deepen and advocate Christian thinking in the nursing and medical/social professions; it promotes health care and social work in accordance with scientific progress and in harmony with the principles of a Christian order which guarantees every human being the well-being and health that is their birthright, and always with respect for their religious convictions. CICIAMS pursues its objectives by organising international meetings and study seminars, drawing up ethical guidelines, and with a solidarity Fund to support the establishment and work of Catholic nurses’ associations in the developing countries.
ORGANISATION
The supreme governing body of CICIAMS is the General Council, made up of the Presidents or the official delegates of the member associations, which meets once every two years. The General Council lays down the general guidelines for the work of the Committee and elects the Executive Bureau comprising the President, Vice Presidents, the General Secretary, the General Treasurer, and the International Ecclesiastical Assistant. The members of CICIAMS have deliberative voting rights. It also has corresponding members.
MEMBERSHIP
CICIAMS has 75 member and corresponding member associations in 56 countries as follows: Africa (18), Asia (16), Europe (12), North America (6), Oceania (2), and South America (2).
PUBLICATIONS
CICIAMS Nouvelles, published three times a year in French, English, Spanish and German.
WEB SITE
PS/ CICIAMS and FIAMC are hosted in Palazzo San Calisto, Città del Vaticano
