2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 580: Ideology and Practice of Health Ministry in Contemporary Africa: Traditional and Western 

Course Overview:
It aims at helping the students fulfill their vocation as HEALERS in the East African context by analyzing the interaction between the Western and traditional medicine and healing practices.

Course Description:
The course will attempt to help participants fulfill their vocation as healers and builders of healing communities in contemporary Africa. This vocation will be studied in the perspective of the definition of health by W.H.O. as "A state of physical, mental and social well being" and of the Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care for all in the year 2000. The course will focus on community-based and preventive health care while taking into account the evolution of curative medicine since the recent appearance of new illnesses. This ministry has to take into account the patients' view of health and illness as due to invisible powers and the importance of prayer healing. It requires a sound knowledge of community-based pedagogy.

Course Outline:

1) Introduction 

- Course content and expectations. 

2) The concept of healing

- Healing in the African concept 

3) Perspectives on human 

-Holistic view of human life
-African cosmology

4) African perspectives on medicine

-African philosophy and medicine  

5) African perceptions of Illness and Disease

-Views about illness
-Holistic view of human disease

6) Issues in the practice of healing

-Healers and protective medicine 
-Healing through faith in God/the ultimate power

7) African healing practices

-Healing activities. 
-Healing rituals.
-Prayer healing.

- Healing through other agents in creation 

8) African psychiatry

-Healing through psychotherapy. 

9) Balanced social relationships

-Social healing in the African context. 
-Therapeutic nature of correct relationships. 

10) Ethical issues in healing

-Therapeutic teaching on ethical issues. 
-Incurable diseases.
-Euthanasia.

- Aids and abortion

11) Alternative modes of healing

-Other healing strategies: non-African and western  
-The syncretic nature of treatment and healing. 

Recommended Readings:

AMREF. Training of Community Health Workers Seminar. Nairobi.

Beattie, J. and Middleton J. (Eds.). (1969). Spirit Mediumship and Society in Africa. New York: Africana Pub. Corp.

Brima, A. A. (1994). Traditional herbalists in the service of health.  Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, July 1994. 

Byaruhanga-Akiiki, A.B.T. & Kealotswe, O. (1995). African Theology of Healing. Gaborone: University of Botswana. 

Chepkwony, A. K. (2006).Healing practices in Africa: Historical and theological considerations. In Chepkwony, A.K.(Ed.) Religion and Health in Africa: Reflections for theology in the 21st century. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.  

Downing, R. (1998). Suffering as a part of healing: How African religion helps people bear affliction. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, July 1998. 

Gartly, J. (Ed.). (1979). Patients, Physicians and Illness: a Source Book in Behavioral Science and Health. Third Edition. New York: Free Press.

Harrison, P. (1987). The Greening of Africa. London: Paladin Grafton Books. 

Hlatshwayo, B. (1994). Protective medicine by healers in Africa. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, July 1994. 

Ngetich, K. (2004). Use of Western and Traditional medicine among residents of Nairobi. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Kihumbu, T. (1975). The African Civilization (Chapter on Medicine) Nairobi: East African Literature Bureau. 

Lipton, M. and E. de Kadt. (1988). Agriculture-Health Linkages. Geneva: World Health Organization. (pp. 111).

Lopow, V. (1994). Alternatives to traditional and Western healing practices in Nairobi. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, July 1994. 

Makinde, A. (1988). African Philosophy, Culture and Traditional Medicine. Vol. 53. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center fro International studies. 

Matovu, P. (1995). Views on Healing. In Byaruhanga-Akiiki, A.B. (Ed). African World Religion: Grassroots Perspectives. Kampala: Makerere University. 

Mbiti, J. S. (1975). Introduction to African Religion. London: Heinemann. 

McCormic, R. A. (1987). Health and medicine in the Catholic tradition: tradition in transition. New York: Crossroad. 

Mpagi, P.W. (2002). African Christian Theology: In search of a staple theology. New York: Orbis Books. 

Robinson, P.W. (1996). Hanging belief, behavior and practice: Choosing hope in response to HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, August 1996. 

Schweizer, M. (1997). Women as healers in Kenyan society. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers 1997. 

Turay, J. A. (1994). Methods of treatment and medications used by traditional herbalists in Mathare area, Nairobi. Unpublished Paper, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Nairobi, Kenya. MIASMU Research papers, 1994. 

W.H.O. (1987). Evaluation of Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000. Seventh Report on the World Health Situation. Vol. 2, African Region, , pp. 248, order no. 123007.

Wood, C. H. and J. P. Vaughan, H. de Granville. (1981). Community Health. Nairobi: AMREF Rural Health Series Manuals.