Health care in today’s fast paced world is not the fiefdom of only doctors and paramedics but also involves the Church community like priests, nuns and members of the laity. The family physician and Parish Priest can work in tandem to maintain the mental and physical health of the parishioners.
Spiritual health indirectly connects with mental health and here the priest can play a role by impressing upon the parishioners the importance of good thoughts and actions, helping less fortunate fellow brethren., charity etc. and not only prayers and following religious rituals. As St Theresa said,” Helping hands are more useful than praying lips” I am not undermining the importance of prayer but if it is not supplemented by action, it is useless.
Prevention is better than cure and its important to take correct measures to prevent diseases and illness rather than trying to cure them. For this awareness must be carried out among the public and members of the parish about necessary measures to prevent diseases like lifestyle changes, diet, environmental care etc. Talks on these aspects can be arranged in the church hall by the church organizations like Parish Pastoral Council and Saint Vincent de Paul. The talks need not be given only by doctors but by any of those involved in health care like nurses, dieticians, psychologists, physiotherapists etc.
Health checkup camps like diabetes and hypertension detection can be held at regular intervals by the church as these two killer diseases are on the upswing and many are not even aware that they have them, only on accidental testing for some other sicknesses do they become apparent. Also counselling and importance of taking the treatment properly without skipping doses or stopping the medication without the doctor’s knowledge, should be stressed.
Sisters involved in the health apostolate make all possible effort to be missionaries, mystics and prophets to the suffering humanity by manifesting the self-giving love of the Eucharistic Jesus to the sick and suffering through their life and healing ministry. They provide holistic health care to the sick and needy, especially the economically poor. Special care is given to women and children with preventive, curative and promotive aspects of health.
Hospitals managed by these sisters like the sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny, Saint Theresa’s missionaries of charity etc. have all facilities like OPD, IPD, x ray, ECG, Ultrasound, Dental, Physiotherapy, MCH [ Mother and child], programs and operational facility.
Beyond the hospital, the sisters reach out to patients affected by TB through DOTS [ Direct Observation treatment] program, immunization of children, free health care for the poor etc.,
The sisters of Saint Theresa’s missionaries of charity do wonderful selfless work in taking care of the abandoned destitute, orphans etc. many of whom suffer from various ailments including psychosomatic disorders. They take care of the basic first aid like doing the wound dressings, giving injections and tablets etc. and arrange for necessary specialized care., all with a smile and spirit of selflessness and down to earth attitude.
Priests are also involved in such selfless services like those at the Divine Retreat Centre Pota, Kerala, where in addition to their preaching, healing and counselling services they also provide yeomen service in taking care and health care of the poor and abandoned sick
Dr Edgar Menezes