Church Leaders’ Role in Influencing Health Services: A Sub-Saharan African Perspective

Abstract: In Sub-Saharan Africa of the twenty first century many nations are still challenged by the existence of poor health service systems where majority of the people cannot access preventive and curative health services. Church leaders have played a very crucial role in influencing the health services through the establishment of facilities that promote physical, emotional, spiritual health care and health of the soul. The paper highlights some initiatives taken by church leaders in providing health care and empowering communities to take responsibility for their own health. The paper further examines the role of the church leaders in providing spiritual and psychological healing of the Christian faithful. Church leaders have potentials to enhance public health services. The paper discussed some of the conflicts regarding the beliefs on health services as emphasized by various church leaders. Some of the conflicts are associated with globalization and world view regarding the human suffering in our time. The paper highpoints some issues of compassion, justice and ethical principles applied in medical field which strengthen or weaken the health services in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. The question is how do church leaders handle some of the sociocultural matters that affect individual’s health today? Pope Francis says “health service is a right not a business”, also in pacem in terris health care is a right, so human dignity should be given priority. The paper will end up with recommendations and conclusion.

Keywords: Health services, Church Leaders, Human dignity, Compassion,socio-cultural practices, healing ministries.