Abstract:
Healthcare in South Africa is in a crisis. Problems with infrastructure, management, human
resources and the supply of essential medicines are at a critical level. This is compounded by
a high burden of disease and disparity in levels of service delivery, particularly between public
and private healthcare. The government has put ambitious plans in place, which are part of the
National Development Plan to ward 2030. In the midst of this we find the individual person
and their family and community staggering under the suffering caused by disease, poverty,
crime and violence. There is a more than 70% chance that this person and their family and
community are trying to make sense of this within a spiritual framework and that they belong
to a faith-based community. This article explores the valuable contribution of spirituality,
spiritual and pastoral work, the faith-based community (FBC) and faith-based organisations
(FBOs) to holistic people-centred healthcare in South Africa.
Description:
Dr André de la Porte is
participating in the research
project, ‘Spirituality and
Health’, directed by Dr
Stephan de Beer, Centre for
Contextual Ministry and
Department of Practical
Theology, Faculty of Theology,
University of Pretoria.