Overcoming fragmentation and waste in health care systems in Africa: Collaboration of health care professionals with pastoral caregivers

Emem Agbiji,Christina Landman

doi:10.4102/hts.v70i2.2654

Emem Agbiji, Christina Landman

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i2.2654

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Abstract

This article explores the possibility and limits of collaboration between medical professionals and pastoral caregivers with a view to overcoming fragmentation and waste in the African hospital care sector. It argues that the quality of health and health care in many African countries is poor. Therefore, a purposeful reform of health care delivery systems in Africa is necessary. Building on the World Health Organization’s statement that the medical model that focuses on medicine and surgery and ignores the factors of belief and faith in healing is no longer satisfactory, it further argues that the medical model (including the bio-psychosocial model) is not sufficient for holistic hospital care; it therefore needs to accommodate complementary approaches (such as pastoral care) and include these as collaborative treatments. The connection of collaboration with quality, value, relationships and the ending of life implies that collaboration is an ethical process of reflection – which could have a legal implication.

Highlights

It is generally established that the quality of health and health care in Africa, as well as globally, is in a crisis created by a growing disease burden (Chopra et al 2009:1029; National strategic health development plan [NSHDP] 2010–2015 of Nigeria [Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health 2010]; World Health Organization [WHO] 2000:23)
The war on the waste of human health resources cannot succeed if attention is not given to pastoral care, because religious beliefs and values are an integral part of Africans’ spirituality and control their illness-health behaviour
While it may be true that health care professionals with exposure to a theological discipline could better bridge the gap between patient, family and community, the enormous burden of disease, time constraints and the shortage of medical professionals present a challenge to a meaningful, sustainable and holistic approach to health care in many African countries

Summary

Introduction

It is generally established that the quality of health and health care in Africa, as well as globally, is in a crisis created by a growing disease burden (Chopra et al 2009:1029; National strategic health development plan [NSHDP] 2010–2015 of Nigeria [Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health 2010]; World Health Organization [WHO] 2000:23). Professional PCGs are theologically and clinically trained care professionals whose work involves understanding the spirituality of patients and providing pastoral care appropriate to careseekers’ expectations and needs.

Results

Conclusion