News
A pioneer in public health, promoting the role of churches in health, healing and wholeness, Dr Eric Ram, who died on 23 May in the USA, was active in promoting the human, social and cultural rights of marginalized peoples, and of low- and middle-income countries within the international community.
Within the WCC's Christian Medical Commission (CMC) from 1977 until 1988, he guided the medical and health programmes of member churches worldwide, and directed a six-continent study on the Christian understanding of health, healing and wholeness. As CMC director, he served as consultant and advisor to both the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and organized several major international consultations on health and wholeness.
Joining World Vision International USA in 1988, he then served as its Geneva office director from 1992 until his retirement in 2001, and as international director of Global Health Programmes. During his period in Geneva, Dr Ram gave leadership to NGO and civil society input to the international debate on health, and served for many years as president of the NGO Forum for Health.
A member of the Church of North India, Dr Ram pioneered early models of integrated primary health care programmes in the state of Maharashtra, where church and government collaborated very closely. His model of primary health care, including the training of traditional birth attendants and community health workers, was adopted by Maharashtra and by the government of India.
With a Ph.D. in international health, Dr Ram published more than 70 articles in various international journals; his book, entitled "Transforming health: Christian approaches to healing and wholeness" was a landmark publication.
Dr Ram is survived by his wife Rosie, two children and four grandchildren. At the time of his death, he was spending time with his daughter in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The funeral was held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St John's Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford, CT, USA.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has reacted with profound grief to news of Dr Ram's death. "We remember his life and work and its impact on the health work of churches and communities, which will continue for a long time to come," said Dr Manoj Kurian, responsible for work on health, healing and wholeness within the WCC. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all who worked with him. May his soul rest in peace!"
