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.