THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN HEALTH.

Yoram SiameChurches Health Association of Zambia

THE WESTERN CHURCH BROUGHT THREE THINGS TO

AFRICA: A CHURCH, A SCHOOL AND

WESTERN MEDICINE.

THE FBO HEALTH FOOTPRINT IN AFRICA IS UNDENIABLE.

• Africa Christian Health associations from 21 countries representing 26 national organisations have joined together under the Africa Christian Health Association’s  Platform  (ACHAP).  ACHAP  members  provide  between  20-50% of the national health services.

• 30–70% of health care infrastructure across the African continent is owned or run by FBOs,(2010, WHO)

• The first census in Africa on the not-for-profit health care sector conducted by Uganda in 2001 showed that 70% of all private not-for-profit health facilities in Uganda are owned by autonomous diocese and parishes.

• Approximately 40% of the healthcare infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa is operated by FBOs,

• Faith-based drug supply organizations are fundamental to the provision of essential medicines to rural and remote areas, particularly when bottlenecks occur in the management and procurement of government supplies.

• Christian hospitals and health Centre's are providing about 40% of HIV care and treatment services in Lesotho (WHO 2005).

• Almost A third of the HIV/AIDS treatment facilities in Zambia are run by FBOs (WHO 2010 study on the role of FBOs in HIV service provision).

ROLE OF RELIGION, IN HEALTH

• Health, religion and cultural norms and values define the health-seeking strategies of many Africans.

• The failure of health policy makers to understand the overarching influence of religion - and the important role of FBOs in Health can seriously undermine efforts to scale up health services.

THE CHURCHES INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH

• SERVICE PROVISION.

• TACKLING HEALTH DETERMINANTS.

• HUMAN RESOURCE PRODUCTION.

• MEDICINES AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS.

• HEALTHCARE FINANCING.

• INNOVATION AND PIONEERING; HBC, PERFORMANCE BASED FINANCING, LEPROSY COLONIES, TELEMEDICINE.

• BREAKING STIGMA (embracing the untouchables)

8. ADVOCACY

8.1 ASKING WHY – Why are the poor more sick?– Why  isn’t  health  a  priority?– Why are there two health systems (one for the poor and one for

the rich)?– Why  doesn’t  every  community  count?– Why are we not doing enough prevention– Why  don’t  we  strengthen  oversight  for  health?– Why are health workers so few and stressed.– Why  don’t  we  have  universal  health  coverage?– Why do we fail to eliminate diseases that can be eliminated?

8.2 RECOMMENDING BETTER WAYS OF DOING HEALTH.

WHY IS THE CHURCH UNDERAPPRECIATED DESPITE DOING SO MUCH.

• It is shy about publicising its work.• Many groups tend to focus on shortcomings as

opposed to its strengths.• Lack of understanding of what the church is. • Many groups want the church to take up their

cause e.g. abortion, family Planning, Rights of minorities.

• The Church will only do that which it sees as compatible with its core mandate To Preach the Kingdom of God and Heal the Sick Mt 9:2.

RECOMMENDATIONS • Greater coordination and better communication

between organizations of different faiths and the private and public health sectors.

• FBOs need to be given policy space that they deserve in Global, regional and national health discussions.

• Respectful Engagement: FBOs should be respected as competent and reflective groups who have the autonomy in deciding what issues they will take on and how.

• Extend health mapping to include FBOs that could help in scaling up Health services.