Archbishop Kazimba appeals on holistic health

Health care workers have been advised to endeavor to offer holistic care to patients by catering for the health of the body, mind, and soul.

Good health care should encompass all the three aspects, and not only focus on the physical aspects of the patients, explained the Archbishop of Uganda, Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu.

Kazimba explained that offering holistic care to patients is of utmost importance because many cases of bad health are brought about due to a people's bad state of mind, and not by pathogens.
Pathogens are disease-causing organisms, such as viruses and bacteria.

Kazimba made the appeal at the launch of Alexandra Medical Centre in Kololo, Kampala district on Saturday.

He urged health workers to handle patients with empathy, and make hospitals centres of hope, healing, and encouragement.

Kazimba's appeal is in line with the World Health Organization definition of health, which is considered as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

In relation to the above, Dr. Castro Kisuule, the proprietor of Alexandra Medical Centre and a gynecologist at Nsambya Hospital, explained that a person's health encompasses psychological, social, emotional, and even cultural wellbeing.

Therefore, patients need to be offered psychological care in form of a counsellor or a psychologist.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Kisuule noted that their doctors take time to teach them about proper living and they promote preventive health care.

Kisuule said they encourage patients to prevent diseases through proper health practices and behavioral change, with the aim of promoting wellness.

"If people endeavor to live well, they will reduce their need to visit hospitals. In additional to providing medical treatment, we encourage patients to feed right, clean their environments, do physical exercises and go for regular check-ups. For example, we encourage women to regularly test for cervical and breast cancer," Kisuule explained.

In addition, patients are encouraged to seek help to manage stress and avoid getting overwhelmed.

For example, Kazimba noted that during this time when many people are struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are worried about several issues and there is a lot of mental stress.

Subsequently, Kazimba urged them to seek support from professionals and close members in their communities so as to maintain a good emotional state.