Page 115 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology alive

Annette and Andre de la Porte

Spirituality and

Healthcare: A South

African perspective

Healthcare in South Africa is in a crisis. Pro-
blems with infrastructure, management, hu-
man resources and the supply of essential me-
dicines are at a critical level. This is compoun-
ded by a high burden of disease and disparity in Annette and Andre de la Porte
levels of service delivery, particularly between HospiVision is a national South African Non-
public and private health. The government has Profit Organization that provides spiritual
put ambitious plans (which are part of the Na- care and counselling and physical support in
tional Development Plan toward 2030) in place. Public Sector Hospitals. André de la Porte is
In the midst of this we find the individual per- the CEO of HospiVision and coordinates a
son and his/her family and community who are research program on Spirituality and Health-
staggering under the suffering caused by disea- care at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for
se, poverty, crime and violence. The chances are Contextual Ministry. Annette de la Porte is
more than 70% that this person and his fami- a social worker and marketing and commu-
ly and community are trying to make sense of nication manager for HospiVision. Andre
this within a spiritual framework and that they and Annette has been married for 32 years
belong to a faith-based community. This article and have two married daughters Danica and
explores the valuable contribution of spirituali- Githa, both social workers!
ty, spiritual and pastoral work, the Faith-Based Their home language is Africaans.
Community (FBC) and Faith-Based Organiza-
tions (FBO) to holistic people-centred health- andred@hospivision.org.za
care in South Africa.

Gesondheidsorg in Suid Afrika is in ‘n krisis. le werk, die geloofsgemeenskap en Nie-Winge-
Daar is omvangryke probleme met infrastruk- wende sektor tot holitiese persoon gesentreerde
tuur, menslike hulpbronne en die voorsiening gesondheidsorg in Suid Adrika.
van essensiële medikasie. Hiermee saam is die
siekte las van die Suid Afrikaanse bevolking 1. Introduction
hoog en is daar wisselende diensvlakke met ‘n Healthcare in South Africa is in a crisis. In the
groot gaping tussen openbare en private ge- 2011 report on Reforming Healthcare in South
sondheidsorg. Die regering het ambisieuse Africa the Centre for Development and Enter-
planne op die tafel gesit wat deel vorm van die prise (CDE) states:
Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan vir 2030. Te mid-
de van dit alles vind ons die indivuele persoon ‚A full-blown crisis of health outcomes develo-
en sy/haaar familie en gemeenskap wat steier ped in South Africa during the 1990s and the
onder intense lyding as gevolg van siekte, ar- first decade of this century. This only received
moede, misdaad en geweld. Die kanse is meer proper political recognition from about 2007,
as 70% dat hierdie persoon, sy/haar familie en when increasingly frequent media exposure of
the public health system’s failings created an
gemeenskap probeer sin maak van hulle leiding atmosphere of crisis and scandal. This, along
vanuit ‘n geestelike raamwerk en dat hulle aan with the brave efforts of health professionals
‘n geloofsgemeenskap behoort. Hierdie artikel and health NGOs, helped silence high-level
ondersoek die bydrae van spiritualiteit, pastora- denialism about HIV and AIDS in particular

114