North Eastern community Health Association (NECHA) is the Regional Unit Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). It was founded in August 1986 by Fr. K.C. George along with some active Nurses of Health Care Centres from the Dioceses of Imphal and Dibrugarh. NECHA represents the seven states of North East India and has a membership of 314 Catholic Health Institutions spread over the 15 Dioceses of the Region. It’s services were rendered through the rural Health Care Centres, run by the Member Institutions (MIs) in remote and inaccessible areas, and medium equipped hospitals. NECHA in collaboration with its member institutions has initiated various developmental programmes in the fields of Health, Leadership building, Advocacy initiatives, Community health, Capacity building, Income Generating activities, Information dissemination and Documentation.

NECHA’s head office was at Imphal, in the beginning. Fr. K.C. George along with the few member Institutions worked hard to organize the health institutions and enable them to provide basic health care to the needy and neglected segment of the society. They formed village health committees and organized health programmes. Later NECHA office was shifted to Shillong for better communication and organization of the programmes for the entire region under the presidency of Fr. K.C. George. The decision to shift the office again from Shillong to Guwahati was taken by the executive Board in 1991. NECHA started its office at Ganeshguri, Guwahati in a rented Building. The office of NECHA was shifted to a rented house at Six Mile in 1992. NECHA acquired the existing land where the first building was built under the director, Rev.Fr. Kurian Joseph. The office cum training centre of NECHA was inaugurated on 5th December 2002 by Most Rev. Thomas Menamparampil, Arch Bishop of Guwahati in the presence of Rt. Rev Thomas Pulloppillil Bishop of Bongaigaon. With its own Office and training facilities, NECHA could organize programmes and activities involving all the diocesan units of the region. On 12th April 2010 NECHA completed the extension of the building, undertaken by Rev Fr. George Parackal, where a conference hall for 100 persons and accommodation for 30, people are available. NECHA’s present aim and effort is to bring community Health to the rural population of all states in North East Region.

Goal
“NECHA envisages a just and peaceful society where people enjoy life in its fullness.”