Establish spiritual units in hospitals to complement medical treatments – Sociology professor

A Professor at the Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Anthonia Maurice Essien, has called for the establishment of spiritual and pastoral units in hospitals.

She noted that such spiritual provisions would complement medical treatments.

Prof. Essien, while speaking at an inaugural lecture of the university with the theme, ‘Mainstreaming Spirituality in Health Care Services: Exploring the Gamut of Inclusivity’, said the effective synergy between medical doctors and spiritualists would address the health care needs of patients.

The Sociology professor explained, “I have recommended that it is important for our hospitals to have effective spiritual and pastoral-care units with chaplains noted for healthy spirituality to help patients grapple with challenges of spirituality.

“This way, inauthentic spiritualists lose their customers in their free-for-service spirituality which is often detrimental to patients.”

She further said that in cases where all medical options have been expended on a patient’s illness, the spiritualist solution may be resorted to within the hospital and not at the spiritual healing homes.

“Building inclusive bridges in spirituality and healthcare services within the hospital ambience is the best way to go because of our religious climate.

“I recommend prayers to God Almighty as one of the most efficacious assignments that spiritualists should give their clients. Others that are dangerous and injurious to health should be discouraged,” she added.

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