Caritas Ghana to intensify charity work

The Catholic Church in Ghana has pledged to intensify its charity work in the country through the Caritas Ghana brand it launched yesterday at the International Press Centre in Accra.

Bishop Mante being assisted by Fr. Afriyie to light the Candle
 

Most Rev. Gabriel A. A. Mante, President of Caritas Ghana, lighting a candle to symbolise the official launch of the new body, prayed that the light would symbolise the recreation and serve as a reminder of the Church’s commitment to shed sunshine on the darkness in governance, ineptitude in public services and opacity in public policies.

The Bishop noted that with the launch, the Church was taking her achievement to another level by establishing legal and institutional framework for her service of charity.

By adopting the Caritas as a global and credible brand, the Ghana Bishops’ Conference has taken steps to protect the Caritas trade and service mark in Ghana, which is now a legally recognised organisation for the Catholic Church in Ghana.

The prelate, who is Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, stated that the launch of Caritas Ghana, introduces significant changes in standard and quality of the social services that the Church has rendered to humanity over the years, in areas of health, education, livelihoods, relief and incomes.

Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, noted that the occasion was to “unveil the Catholic Church’s plans, structure and framework to respond more vigorously and zealously the challenges of Ghana’s development and public policy making, in the context of our faith conviction.”

He said by formalising its existence in Ghana, the Catholic Church signals to Government of Ghana and Development Partners, her readiness to domesticate and replicate the benefits of mutually rewarding partnership in the context of Ghana’s development needs.

According to the Executive Secretary and head of the Department of Human Development at the National Catholic Secretariat, the event was about partnership building and networking in the spirit of promoting effective development cooperation.

“This means the Church is adding and contributing to civil society activism in Ghana. It also means extending the opportunities and possibilities of existing cooperation for development to Ghana through Caritas,” he added.

Caritas Ghana, with the general theme and slogan: Good Works; Generosity, Sharing, has among other objectives the promotion of effective institutional structures and functioning of the church’s service of charity at National, Diocesan and Parish levels.

It will also promote the Catholic Church’s Socio-pastoral work as a means of expressing the Gospel message and the social doctrine of the Church to the world, and equally contribute to the enhancement of dignity of the human person; especially the poor and the marginalised. This will be attained through their direct empowerment and representation where they are excluded.

Caritas Ghana is also poised to consolidate the successes of the Catholic Church’s mission of charity and undertake social action research as a means to improve social-service delivery in the country.  

In a welcome address, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Abbey-Quaye, Assistant Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra, explained that Caritas Ghana “will be a new and innovative way by which the Church in Ghana will carry out the mission of service to charity.”

He stated that the new body will help people appreciate the remarkable work done by the Church and those yet to be done in terms of provision of social services to address the needs of the poor.

Bishop Mante with dignitaries at the launch

The Chairperson of the launch, Barrister Elizabeth Anderson-Yebuah, expressed the hope that Caritas Ghana will continue to support the cause of development.

Very Rev. Nicholas Afriyie, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat, and staff as well as representatives from Catholic Relief Service, STAR-Ghana, UNHCR, European Union and the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam were in attendance.

QUALITY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, FOR A HEALTHY NATION

          

                              

The pain of negligence and general lack of care by some health professionals, causing the loss of human lives is worrying, especially in the wake of reports of many avoidable deaths at some health facilities. 

The loss of precious human lives who visit hospitals, hoping to receive attention, get relief or cure and healing from their maladies, cannot be compensated in any form.

It is even disheartening to see that human lives are wasted, because some health workers were just unwilling to be proactive, as a result of one or two reasons. Sometimes it has to do with malfunctioning machines or the unavailability of some medicines or machines at the time of need.

HEALTH PROBLEM

There is no doubt Ghana’s Health System is facing several challenges, including a serious backlog of arrears owed health facilities by the National Health Insurance Authority. Some have to do with the retention and adequate motivation for staff, high cost of operating health facilities and the attitude problem which is affecting quality health care delivery in the country.

In fact, the Government has reneged on its promise to make the payment of National Insurance premium a onetime affair. However, the Government's move in investing in health infrastructure, whereas critical things concerning the sustenance of quality health system, sustainable health insurance, as well as ensuring patient safety and confidence in the care given are lacking, cannot be overemphasised.   

RESPONSIBILITY OF CAREGIVERS

Falling sick is an unpleasant experience and nobody loves being sick? From the look on the faces of patients, it interesting to observe that nobody ever plans to endure the pains of falling sick. Yet the reality is that we all sometimes fall sick once or twice to warrant ones visit to the hospital.

It is nauseating but an uncomfortable moment one have to endure. And if our health facilities cannot do anything to lessen our pains, then it has no business to worsen our plights.

It is a worrying phenomenon that all over the world, millions of people die when assessing health care at the various health facilities. Some causes being negligence by health caregivers, wrong medication to patients, lack of attention, arrogance and impatience in attending to the needs of health seekers and a carefree attitude among caregivers.          

If hospitals or health facilities are established to take care of the health needs of patients, then their core mandate and business must be to give authentic care to patients at all times. This is their duty and anything below this is unhealthy and deadly.  

SAFETY OF HUMAN LIFE

That a healthy people ensures a robust and resilient economy, means Ghanaians health providers and stakeholder involved in health care delivery must place higher premium on human life.

To guarantee the safety of human life at our hospitals, health workers have a responsibility to show love, respect, and dignity to the patients.

In the spirit of giving high value to caregiving venture, all health workers must show compassion and courtesy to all their clients, no matter their status. This way, our health system will mirror not just only a respected service delivery but will be a true and complete healing centre for all. 

ADDRESSING THE ATTITUDE PROBLEM

With the noble intent of saving lives, health workers have seen the pains in people’s eyes. They have even witnessed the death of many and will even see many more. But that the health facilities are in business of offering care, it is my plea that health workers respect the patients and show compassion to them.

Our attitudes must change towards the people we serve. Our caregivers must be unique and help us sustain the gains we have made as a people. Health workers have a duty to demonstrate the goodwill that our health system is one of the best.

Interestingly, like the voter, every day the patient who visit health facilities are becoming enlightened by the minutes, due to the availability of information on the internet. This should make health workers take the services their delivering seriously in order to guard against medico-legal issues that may arise from one or two mistake.

Health workers must bear in mind that the patient you treated yesterday will not be the same patient you will be treating today or tomorrow. They are learning fast, and are aware of their rights and they can sue any health worker and health facility for negligence.

  

GSP Donates to Accra Archdiocese

The Good Shepherd Parish (GSP) at Tema Community, Two has handed over a newly constructed Holy Trinity Church at Sege to Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Accra Archdiocese.

It was a moving moment when the Archbishop shed tears of joy and gratitude in appreciation of the kind gesture of the Parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

The New and old Church buildings

The New Church

In a warm hug with Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Emmanuel Maunger, Parish Priest of GSP, the Archbishop thanked the Priests, Mrs. Winifred Darko Eshun, Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Golden Jubilee Planning Committee members, the Project Committee and the entire parishioners of the Good Shepherd Church for taking up the challenge he gave them two years ago.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle who blessed the new place of worship for the community, expressed his gratitude, and assured the Parishioners that the Lord will reward all their efforts.

He entreated the faithful at Sege not to think their benefactors were rich but to contribute their little resources to support the growth of the Church, adding that “to whom more has been given more is required”.    

Making the presentation, Fr. Maunger said the Good Shepherd Parish in the spirit of the New Evangelisation accepted the Archbishop’s challenge and settled on helping construct the Sege Church, because of its strategic location as the new District Capital of Ada West District.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle and the Planning Committee Members

So far, he said GH ¢ 325,000 was spent on the project, adding that the quality materials used in building the Church, must translate into the formation of quality Christians in the community.

“Don’t feel shy in living your faith but be proud to profess it and reach out to lapsed Catholics and those yet to hear the Good News of Christ’s salvation”.

Rev. Fr. Japhet Obieloka, CMF, Priest-in-charge of the St. Mary’s Rectorate at Koluedor, who is also in-charge of the Holy Trinity Church, expressed gratitude to the Parishioners of the GSP for putting up the Church for them.

He said the Church was strategizing to embark on vigorous evangelisation at Sege and its environs to spread the Good News.         

Since the Church was missionary in nature, he encouraged the spirit of sharing of time, intelligence and resources among the members of well big Churches to help build the new Churches as a whole.

Mr. Christian Ahiaku, Church President of Holy Trinity Church, in an interview,  thanked the GSP Parishioners for giving them a beautiful Church edifice.

Archbishop congratulating GSP Golden Jubilee members while
Fr Mauger

He said the 38 year old Church with over 300 members including children, was poised to work on finishing the project but appealed for support to complete the Church.

  

Mr. Stanislous Yankson, Assistant Project Committee Chairperson, said the new church with about 800 sitting capacity is 80 per cent complete.

Mr. Yankson, who doubles as the Project Engineer of the Church building, said the project which was at the foundation level before the GSP took over, mobilised artisans and workers from Sege in the construction work.  

“When completed, the church would have a sacristy, mission house and offices attached to the Church as well as two stores or changing rooms” he noted.

He said there are ongoing talks to still support the Church complete the Church building project.

Innovative thinking to drive Church’s growth

Catholic laity and the clergy in Ghana and West Africa have been entreated to be innovative, foster effective team spirit to build a self-reliant and sustainable Church.

The appeal was made at the Imani-Catholic Bishops’ Conference Business Roundtable on the Catholic Church Growth in West Africa, last Saturday.

The programme which was held as part of the just ended Second Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA-CEROA) in Accra, and was themed: Church Pathways-From Dependence to Self-Reliance in the RECOWA-CEROA Sub-region.  

Speaking on the topic: Sustaining relevance of the State media in the face of the fast changing media landscape, Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, highlighted the need for a change in attitude of Catholics and called for responsive leadership everywhere.

Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, with panelists at the meeting

He urged the laity and the clergy to constantly scan the environment and seek ways to grow the Church, urging them to embrace the media to evangelise and tell the Church’s story, as well as respect and treat both her internal and external customers as kings.

To sustain its growth, Mr. Ashigbey called on the Church to draw effective pastoral plans, which would ensure full participation of the laity and all to build a self-reliant church.

He also challenge the Church to develop innovative businesses that will create jobs for the professionals within the parishes, and to generate profit that will help run the Church’s evangelisation activities.

Mr Felix Nyako-Pong

Similarly, Mr Felix Nyarko-Pong, Managing Director of uniBank who spoke on how to maximise the Church’s socio-economic projects and how to reduce unemployment, reiterated the need for the Church to put in place effective strategies to create businesses to support the Church mission works.

He said the Catholic Church has what it takes to build and create unique enterprises that would help reduce unemployment and help in the Church’s growth.

To achieve these stated ideals, Mr Nyarko-Pong called for a change in attitude and mind-set so that collectively the church can harness its resources to make profit to support her social works.         

Mrs. Felicity Acquah 

Shedding light on leveraging on assets to build a sustainable funding base for the Church, Mrs. Felicity Acquah, Former Director of EximBank Ghana, observed that the Catholic Church has the expertise to exploit her resources to the fullest.

She said the church should look for viable investment instruments to invest and to acquire more assets for her expansion project, adding that it was time the Church started thinking competitive in her approach to doing things and remunerate her workers well or risk losing them to other competitors.

Fr Filton Mensah making a contribution at the Meeting.

Discussants at the roundtable highlighted the need to seek balance in carrying out the Church’s mission of seeking salvation for souls, even while doing business and striving to make the Church more self-reliant than donor dependant.

Sir Fosuaba Banahene, former Administrator for GETFund, who chaired the function observed that accountability, and solidarity were key in the Church’s strive for self-reliance, and entreated all stakeholder to maintain the integrity of the Church.

At the meeting were most prelates of the Church in West Africa, the Laity, and Civil Society Organisations.

NHIA killing Health facilities

With the worrying trend of its indebtedness to health facilities for several months, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua Diocese has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expedite action in paying Health facilities for services rendered under the scheme, since the health facilities were suffering.  

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

He made the appeal in an interview with the Media, Saturday at Battor, during the joint launch of the 24^th World Day of Sick between the Accra Archdiocese and the Koforidua Diocese at the Battor Catholic Hospital.    

The Bishops call comes in the wake of numerous others, appealing to the government and the NHIA to reimburse the health facilities for services rendered to subscribers of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“As a result of the undue delays by the NHIA in paying health facilities, since May last year, some hospitals are grinding to a halt,” he said. “This is negatively affecting health delivery across the country”.

He reiterated his call to the NHIA to “…do whatever it takes to save the situation, because the hospitals are suffering.”

The Bishop with some dignitaries and awardees at the function

The Bishop who read Pope Francis’ message on the theme: Entrusting Onself to Merciful Jesus like Mary: ‘Do whatever he tells you’ (John 2:5), explained the importance of the World Day of the Sick, and said the day was instituted by Pope St. John Paul in the 90’s to raise awareness among health workers and the public on the need to be compassionate in sharing in the suffering of the sick.

Saying that health workers’ profession was a vocation, and a call to help alleviate the pains of the suffering sick, the Bishop charged them to make the care of the patient their utmost priority. 
He however, thanked health workers for the good works they have been rendering over the years, urging them to keep up it.

 

Very Rev. Fr. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of the Accra Archdiocese, who chaired the function, underscored the need to for people to value their health since it was critical for the development.

He said the Catholic Church has since established health facilities to further Jesus Christ’s healing ministry to bring care to the many marginalised people in the society. 

In a welcome address, Mr. Donatus Duncan Adaletey, Administrator of the Catholic Hospital, Battor, reminded health workers to extend love, respect and be compassionate to their patients, since they were important.

Mr Donatus Adaetey

He said times have changed and patients have become more enlightened due to the availability of information on the internet, and warned health workers to guard against medico-legal issues because one big problem can cripple a health facility forever. 

Calling for patients to be treated with dignity, the Administrator, who is also the Executive Secretary of Health in the Accra Archdiocese, urged health workers in Ghana particularly those in Catholic health facilities to always use words of “welcome, thank you and sorry’ in their service. “In the face of capitation, it is only courtesy to patients that will attract them to patronise our facilities,” he added.

The Administrator announced a Gh c 1 per month Leprosarium project some staff at the Catholic Hospital were already contributing to support the inmates at the Ho Leprosarium on subsequent World Day of the Sick.   

Dr. Solomon Brookman, Medical Superintendent at the Hospital in a brief remark, said compassion was paramount in health delivery, and urged health workers to be compassionate, and be friendly to their patients.

At the programme, Madam Marie Helegbe of the Catholic Hospital Battor and Mr. Raphael Amuzu Dzameshie, of the Orthopaedic Training Centre, Adoagyiri-Nsawam, were awarded with a citation and presents as the Best Workers for the Senior Staff Category in the Accra Archdiocese and Kofordua Diocese respectively.

Likewise Mrs. Emelia Amoah, of the St. Andrews Clinic, Kordiabe, and Madam Charlotte Aboagye of the Holy Family Nurses’ Training College, Nkawkaw were also presented with citation and awards for the Junior Staff Category, for the Accra Archdiocese and Koforidua respectively. 

Mr. Victus Kwaku Kpesese, Executive Secretary for Kofordua Diocesan Health Service, noted the essence of the awards, and defined the criterion used to shortlist those awarded, noting that it was based on long term dedication and merit in their works.      

 

At function were representative of Traditional authorities, as wells reps of several health facilities and in the Accra and Koforidua Arch/Dioceses.

The Catholic Hospital Choir which sang melodious tunes to spice up the function was in attendance, as well representatives of health facilities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nathaniel Otoo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, has assured Ghanaians that the authority was working at reducing the deficits in the scheme to make it more effective.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nathaniel Otoo, has given assurances the authority is currently working at reducing the deficits in the scheme to make it more effective.

The NHIA’s expenditure has been consistently exceeding its income for the past six years, and this situation has created huge deficit gaps for the scheme.

- See more at: http://citifmonline.com/2016/02/23/we-will-close-the-nhia-deficit-gap-nhia-boss/#sthash.8bKd8W6f.dpuf

Invest in your Children

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, has charged Christians to invest in the holistic education of their children because they were the future of the Church and nation.

He urged parents to teach their children values that will make them grow into responsible citizens, as well as teach them their local languages and encourage them to learn other local languages, which he noted will make them appreciate other Ghanaian cultures.

The Archbishop made these remarks at the climax of a three-day pastoral visit to the St. Agnes Rectorate at Dodowa in the Accra Archdiocese, after the children ministry performed a spectacular display in honour of the Archbishop.

“Your language is a gift from God, your culture is a gift from God” the Ordinary noted, charging parents to invest their time and teach their children to speak and read the local languages.

The Archbishop urged parents to “let the children also learn other languages in order to relate well with others in the Ghanaians society”.  

By learning other Ghanaian languages and cultures, the Sharped observed that it would enable children develop an open mind about others, appreciate Ghanaians other than those from their ethnic backgrounds better, which helps in fostering strong national cohesion and healthy national political discourse.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle in reiterating the appeal for parents to invest in their wards, entreated them to make their families conducive place to raise their children. “In families children learn to grow together, they learn to share and compete healthily” he said.

In a homily at the over three-hour Mass, during which he confirmed 57 confirmadi, the Local Ordinary charged the faithful to trust in the Lord’s providence to provide all their needs.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle with the concelebrating Priests and the Confirm

As Jesus Christ asked Simon Peter to “put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:5), the Archbishop in like manner asked the faithful to pray the Lord in the Lenten season to let His will be done in their lives and in their communities.

Rev. Frs. Matthew Mensah and Lawrence Agyapong, Priest-in-charge and Associate Priest, concelebrated at the Mass.

Among hundreds of faithful at the Mass were the members from St. Peter’s Catholic Church at Ayikuma; St. Hubert’s Catholic Church, Agomeda; and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Oyibi, all outstations of St. Agnes Catholic Church.

Also in attendance were pupils of Rays of Hope Project, which the Archbishop tasked the faithful to support the project grow.

Earlier, the Archbishop who was received by the faithful into Dodowa with delight, paid a courtesy call on Nene Dzagbletey, Chief of Dodowa; and visited the various Churches under the rectorate to interact with the faithful and conduct catechesis with them.               

  

‘Listen to the Voice of God’

The Government of Ghana has been advised to listen to the voice of God in the way it handles the various sectors of the economy to bring the much needed relief to Ghanaians.   

Archbishop Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan of Kumasi
Archdiocese. 

Most Rev. Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, made these remarks when he chaired the National Launch of the 24^th World Day of Sick at the St. Patrick Hospital at Maase-Offinso in the Kumasi Archdiocese. 

Drawing linkages between sickness and the health of Ghana’s economy, the Archbishop stated that Ghana was not feeling too well and said we need Jesus Christ to save us.

He therefore charged government to listen to God and do what God tell her in order to save the situation.

Archbishop Anokye said as partners in healthcare delivery with the Catholic Church contributing about 38 per cent to healthcare in the country, both the Church and the government must listen to each other to save lives.

He commended health workers for their efforts, and entreated them to listen to Jesus Christ and their superiors, urging them to be sincere in the discharge of their duties.

The Archbishop earlier in a homily at a Mass preceding the launch, urged health workers to invite Jesus into their lives, since He will help them overcome all their challenges.

He charged health workers to eschew lackadaisical attitude in their work but work with love and compassion, as well as respect the tenets of the Church in the discharge of their duties.  

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua and the Bishop Responsible for Health at the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, who delivered the Pope’s message, was on the theme: Entrusting Onself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn.2:5).

Quoting from the Pope’s message, he said “illness, above all grave illness, always places human existence in crisis and brings with it questions that dig deep. Our first response may at times be one of rebellion: Why has this happened to me?”

“We can feel desperate, thinking that all is lost, that things no longer have meaning…” he added.

“In these situations, faith in God is on the one hand tested, yet at the same time can reveal all of its positive resources. Not because faith makes illness, pain, or the questions which they raise, disappears, but because it offers a key by which we can discover the deepest meaning of what we are experiencing” he noted.

Therefore the mystery of the wedding feast of Cana for the World Day of the Sick, paints an image of the Church: with Jesus at the centre, who in his mercy performs a sign; with his disciples around him. Beside Jesus and his disciples is Mary, the provident and prayerful mother.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum reiterated the Pope’s call that if we can learn to obey the words of Mary, who says: “Do whatever He tells you”, Jesus will always change the water into wine” and intervene in our sicknesses.

In an address, Mr George Adjei, Director of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), renewed the pledge of the Catholic Health Service to work hard in healthcare delivery in spite of the daunting challenges including maternal and neonatal mortalities.

Mr George Adjei, Esq.

The Director stated that with 36 Hospitals, 70 Clinics, 10 Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges and 2 (two) specialised Institution in the country, the NCHS was poised to sustain the provision of quality healthcare delivery to Ghanaians.

He thanked the Archbishop of Kumasi, the Archdiocesan Executive Secretary for Health and the Management and Staff of St. Patrick Hospital for hosting the 2016 National launch of the 24^th World Day of the Sick.     

Mr Christian Abban Sappor

       

In a welcome address, Mr. Christian Abban Sappor, Executive Secretary for Health in the Kumasi Archdiocese noted that sickness is an inevitable scenarios that mankind cannot avoid, thus the existence of caregivers.

He said the theme for the celebration was an appropriate one which calls for all care providers and care seekers to entrust themselves to the merciful Jesus like Mary and do whatever He tells us.      

During the launch, the Hospital commissioned a refurbished Emergency Unit and a Special Clinic to help ease the congestion at the Outpatient Department and help in quality healthcare provision to patients.

The Dignitaries inspecting the refurbished clinic

Some dignitaries at the function interacting after the launch 

Present at the Launch were Most Rev. Thomas Kweku Mensah, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Chief of Maase-Offinso and his entourage, Mr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Secretary, Christian Health Association (CHAG), as well as Chaplains and Priests, and many well-wishers.

As part of ceremony  Madam Elizabeth Mensah, Superintendent Enrolled Nurse; Madam Emma Pinamang, Principal Nursing Officer; and Mr. Philbert Yeltuo, Principal Pharmacy Technician were awarded for their long service at the Hospital. They were presented with double-decker fridges.     

Let Your Presence Inspire Confidence-

Catholic Chaplains missioned to hospitals have been challenged to let their presence inspire confidence among the sick and the staff, to ensure improve healthcare delivery to all.

Rev. Fr. Prof. John Appiah-Poku explaining a point, while
Mr Essegbey looks on.

Rev. Fr. Prof. John Appiah-Poku, a senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), stated that Chaplains were symbols of our shared faith, and charged them to demonstrate it, show it and live the tenets of the Church’s teachings in their respective roles. This is to complement efforts being made in the healing process at the hospitals. 

He made these observations in a presentation titled: The Chaplain as a Counsellor for Medical Intervention, at the Pope John Paul II Pastoral and Training Centre at Ofoase-Kokoben in the Obuasi Diocese.

 

Stressing the place of consistent and supportive care in the healing process, the Professor, intimated that irrespective of the cause of sickness, many non serious illness will heal when some level of care and concern were shown to the patient.

“The assurance and support offered patience increases the threshold of the patient tolerance for pain” he noted, adding that as the human face of God in the healing process, Chaplains were the comforting presence of the Church to the sick, through the administration of the sacraments and offering care.

 Fr. Appiah-Poku, opined that symbolic healing (which takes spiritual and physical form) was no monopoly of religious confession, and charged Chaplains to be skilful in their practice, as well as strive to maintain the uniqueness of the Church’s healing ministry at all times.

He stated that the Chaplain as the hope of the hopeless, comforter of the troubled hearted and the bearer of the image of God, must insist on Catholic beliefs in healthcare delivery at the various facilities at all times.

Mr George Adjei

Mr. Goerge A. Adjei, Esq., Director, the National Catholic Health Service, tackling the various areas, causes and challenges of medico-legal issues, arising from negligence and errors in healthcare delivery at the hospitals, urged Chaplains to help managers sensitise the staff on these areas in order to reduce the occurrence.

He entreated Chaplains to play the intermediary role to reduce the negative impacts punishment on staff for mistakes or psychological effects an error or negligence in caregiving might have on an offending staff.

In case of death of patients on admissions, Mr. Adjei urged Chaplains to engage the deceased families in to break the sad news of death of loved ones and follow up to console and support them afterwards.

Likewise, Mr. Ivan Essegbey, Senior Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation at the DOH, reminded the Chaplains of their duty to maintain good identity of their facilities in order to avoid bad press image, medico-legal issues, and loss of revenue among others.

“Be involved in orientation and organise retreats for management and staff” he stated.

Similarly, Mr. Lawrence Ofosu-Agyari, Senior Coordinator of Health Systems Management at the DOH, touched on the essence of team building, highlighting the crucial roles of chaplains as well as other members of the management team in ensuring cohesion, and addressing the complexities of healthcare provision in their respective facilities.

He however, urged them to maintain their neutrality, as they encourage team members to give off their best, reminding them to add a professional touch to their work. 

Mr. Ofosu-Agyari, also advised chaplains to lobby and build consensus on issues patterning to budget, and how to ensure the effective work of Pastoral Care teams.

The Chaplains were urged to be directly involved in the pre-counselling and post-counselling sessions for those undertaking HIV/AIDS Test and also do more of pre-surgical counselling for patients.  

A section of the Chaplains

Almost all the Chaplains reported an increment in their allowance from ¢300 to ¢1000, after the Directorate of Health and the respective Executive Secretaries took up the matter the concern the Chaplains registered last year. However a lot of them were yet to get offices in the various facilities they were working in.

Per the demands and nature of the Chaplains work in the healthcare delivery, the Chaplains expressed the need for training to equip them and need for Bishops to appoint permanent Chaplains to hospitals to help effectively make them effectively function in their apostolate.

  

Based on most Chaplains desire to visit Rome, the Director for NCHS touched on the possibility of arranging for two or three chaplains to attend the Annual Pontifical Conference on Health Rome each year to give them the platform.

        

The chaplains also resolved to invite Chaplains of Catholic Health Training and Midwifery Schools as well as Catholic Chaplains in Government Institutions to be part of the Association.