wfn.org | Churches Are Major Health Care Provider in Africa and Asia

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

January 2, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Churches Are Major Health Care Provider in Africa and Asia -
Adventists testify importance of health as one aspect of the 
gospel message

Nairobi, Kenya.      A major new report published by the World 
Council of Churches (WCC) has shown that churches play a 
crucial role in providing health care in many African and Asian 
countries. It confirms that care for physical well-being 
continues to be an integral part of Christian mission, inspired 
by the ministry of Jesus himself on earth.

There is evidence of the pioneering efforts in health care 
made by the church throughout the world. But this report - 
Sustainability Of Church Hospitals In Developing Countries: A 
Search For Criteria For Success - also highlights the ways 
churches are active in health care outside of major health 
institutions.

Health care in many countries is facing a crisis as the 
continuing pressure on costs is made worse by the 
widespread effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The church 
plays a vital role in co-operation with governments in ensuring
that health care can be provided on a long-term basis.

In Kenya, religious organisations own 34% of the hospitals 
and about 20 of the beds, while in Zambia over half the 
hospitals are church owned. The report includes a detailed 
analysis of 43 hospitals in 11 counties, concluding 
that in many of these countries the churches are by far the 
most significant voluntary contributor to health care.

According to Adventist Press Service (APD), the extensive 
medical and health work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 
a protestant world communion, testify to the church's belief in 
the importance of health as one aspect of the gospel message 
and Christian living, and of their practical concern for health 
and healing. The Adventist Church today operates more than 
500 hospitals, sanatoriums, dispensaries, and clinics world-
wide, with over 75,500 employees. In 1997 the Outpatient 
visits numbered at 10.1 million. The first Seventh-day 
Adventist health care institution, the Battle Creek Sanitarium 
at Battle Creek, Michigan/U.S.A., was founded in 1866. 
(07/2000)