‘Put in more Effort’-Health workers charged

Health workers have been advised to put in more efforts to sustain the delivery of quality healthcare to the sick in the country. 

Most Rev. Joseph Francis Kwaku Essien, Bishop of Wiawso, who made the appeal at this year’s National Launch of the World Day of the Sick at the St. John of God Hospital at Sefwi-Asafo charged health professionals to discharge their duties with love, dedication and smile in caring for the patient.

“What is the use of a beautiful hospital or clinic which does not have competent and honest personnel, or personnel who show gross indiscipline and disrespect to patients?” he queried.

While commending health workers, especially those within the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) for their commitment to healthcare delivery, the Bishop entreated them to do more to overcome the lapses inherent in the healthcare delivery system currently.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho and Episcopal Chainman for Health, launching the 27^th World Day of the Sick, read the Pope’s message and entreated the health workers to promote the culture of generosity and care to the sick.

The Bishop also commended Catholic healthcare institutions and volunteers in healthcare for their services, and reiterated the Pope’s call for them to avoid the trap of turning their service as “simply running a business” but “to give an example of self-giving, generosity and solidarity”.

The theme for the celebration “You received without payment; give without payment” (Mt. 10:8), attracted many health workers and Hospital Chaplains health from facilities throughout the country.

Similarly, George Adjei, Esq, Director of the Directorate of Health at the NCS, commended the Catholic Church for its role in healthcare in Ghana, and thanked the staff of the NCHS for their contributions and dedication.

In order to maintain quality health delivery, the Director entreated workers within the NCHS to redouble their efforts to continue improving the provision of quality healthcare delivery to their clients.

According to Rev. Bro. Yohannes Torwoe, Director of the St. John of God Hospital, the facility in 2018 recorded 67,964 OPD attendance, out of which 11,045 were admitted, and 1,487 surgeries performed. The facility also recorded 2,298 deliveries, with 9,769 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) and a decline in the maternal mortalities from 161 cases in 2017 to 147 in 2018.

Bro. Torwoe extolled the hardworking staff for their professionalism, dedication and commitment, which helps the hospital sustain the healthcare delivery at the facility.

As part of the launch, sod was cut for the construction of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Nana Kwame Obeng II, Chief of Sefwi-Mim, who chaired the function, acknowledged the contribution of the Catholic Church to the development and improvement of healthcare delivery, and thanked the efforts of the staff of the hospital.

He also pledged the assistance of the Chief and Elders of the area to support the development of the hospital.

The Hospital Choir as well as the St. Joseph Church Choir at Sefwi-Asafo graced the function with medleys of songs. 

Some of the Chaplains visited the patients in the wards and prayed for them. 

Lessons on Wills, Addiction for Chaplains

Mr. Adjei taking the Chaplains through how to write Wills

Thirty-four Catholic Hospital Chaplains recently received training on what Wills entails, the complexities involved and how to document nuncupative Wills, during a recent meeting at Sefwi- Wiawso.

A section during the presentation

Touching on who qualifies to write a will, George Adjei Esq., Director of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), noted that every person above age 18, is capable of making a Will. This, he said excludes persons with unsound mind, infants or person bellow 18 years and persons who are senile, including persons suffering from memory loss and those unable to speak audibly or coherently as well as persons suffering from excruciating pain or in a state of hysteria and persons under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Adjei, highlighting the importance of Wills noted that Wills were written to avoid trouble and confusion after the death of a person, as well as give effect to the wishes of the deceased.

Another importance of a Will he noted was to circumvent some customs and traditions from taking the effect, and to provide for the upkeep of family members and loved ones, as well as avoid PNDC Law 111 from taking effect on the Testator’s property.

Speaking on the topic: Writing Nuncupative Wills, Mr. Adjei, explained that a Will is a legal document containing instructions about the disposal of a person’s property. It is essentially a declaration of a person’s intentions concerning how his/her property should be distributed after his/her death.

Some of the Chaplains taking notes 

He expounded that a nuncupative Will (oral will) is a Will that has been delivered orally (that is, in speech) to witnesses, as opposed to the usual form of Wills.

Explaining further, Mr. Adjei noted that nuncupative Will should be voluntary by the Testator, who has attained maturity age and not suffering from any mental incapacity.

He also noted that properties of the Testators must be self-acquired.

Mr. Adjei also advised Chaplains who might be entrusted with such wills to record the oral will, when it was being made and transcribe them for safe keeping.

The Director explained that the topic was chosen because, in their work, Chaplains regularly encounter these situations during the end of life care. “Where it is possible to invite a lawyer, this may not be necessary but in case of ‘emergency’, that is where death is almost imminent, a Chaplain could document these wishes”, he added.

A Chaplain seeking clarification.

He also made the distinction between an oral Will and death-bed wishes or dying wishes.

Noting that Wills take the effect after the death of a person (Testator), he advised Ghanaians to write Wills and periodically revise them.

Dr. Anita Appiah, Coordinator for Community and Institutional Care at the Directorate of Health, speaking on Addictions, called Chaplains and those handling addicts to respect their (the addicts) rights and dignity.

As pastoral agents, she entreated Chaplains to be willing to help addicts appreciate their challenge, adding that even though their clients may deny they were addicted at the initial stages, they should strive to build rapport with them in order to facilitate their healing.

Dr. Appiah described addiction as a chronic disease characterized by compulsive thinking about what one derives satisfaction from, and difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

Drawing the distinction between substance and process addictions, she urged Ghanaians to be concerned about Addictions and work together with other experts by providing the needed support to the patient.

Mr. Essegbey (R) interacting with some Chaplains.

She noted that the essence of the presentation was to create awareness among the Chaplains on the drug the phenomenon, which is on the ascendency and how they could work with experts to help counsel the addicts.

Similarly, Mr. Ivan Essegbey, Senior Coordinator of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Directorate of Health, NCS, who acknowledged the invaluable role the Chaplains played in the hospitals, encouraged them to submit their data on time to the Directorate.

*Mr Adjei taking the Chaplains through the topic on Wills.

Capacity building for Hospital Chaplains

The Prelates and Chaplains

Catholic Hospital Chaplains Association has at the end of their annual capacity building workshop at Sefwi-Wiawso adopted new strategies to ensure the effective running of the body. 

To this end, members renewed the mandate of the President, Rev. Fr. Joseph Donkor and elected Rev. Frs. Richmond Danso Sintim, and Joseph Opoku, as Vice President and Treasurer respectively, with Fr. Mathias Takyi Agyeman, as Secretary of the Association.

Chaplains in the healthcare setting are not only spiritual counsellors but advocates for patients and staff. They no doubt influence care, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance staff morale.

Due to the trust they establish with patients, experts say Chaplains are able to transfer to other members of the care team motivation, leading to better care outcomes.

It is on this basis that the Directorate of Health at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), has instituted the annual meetings for Catholic Hospital Chaplains across the country to give them a refresher training and strengthen their capacities to discharge their roles effectively.

The Association which expressed the vital role of Chaplains noted the complexities in their work and called for the designation of a Priest Chaplain at the National Catholic Secretariat to coordinate and champion the cause of Chaplains in the country.

A Chaplain praying for the patient

The group also suggested the upgrading of the CPE programme run for counsellors in Koforidua, in order to award professional certificates recognized by Ghana Psychology Council.

They appealed to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for the approval and recognition of the Chaplains Association as well as the appointment of fulltime chaplains to health facilities.

The Chaplains numbering 34 indicated the need for the registration of the Association as a body and members with the Ghana Psychology Council in order to receive licenses to enable them to operate professionally in the health facilities.

Similarly, Fr. Donkor on behalf of the Association called for the synchronization of salaries and appraisal of Chaplains, leading to promotion. They also appealed for sponsorship for professional training to improve their professionalism.

Mr. George Adjei, Director of Health at the NCHS, who underscored the relevance of the Chaplains in health institutions added his voice to the appeal for a National Chaplain and recognition of the Chaplains by the Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference, just like the Chaplains in the Security Services and Tertiary Institutions.

Commenting on the appraisal and promotion of Chaplains, the Director said the Executive Secretaries in the Arch/Dioceses were best placed to appraise the Chaplains in their work on behalf of the respective Arch/Bishops.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho and Episcopal Chairman for Health who sat through the meeting, urged the Association to present a proposed job description for the National Chaplain office for the evaluation and consideration by the Bishop’s Conference.

For the Association to be recognized by the Bishop’s Conference, Bishop Fianu advised them to present a Constitution, which clearly spells out important details of their scope of work for the Bishops consideration.

On the last day of the meeting, Bishop Joseph Francis K. Essien, Bishop of the Diocese hosted the Chaplains to a special dinner at the Pastoral Centre.

Fr. Donkor on behalf of his confreres thanked the Bishop for hosting them and giving them the treat.