Pastoral Care Services
St
Camillus Mission Hospital is a person centred hospital with the prevailing
motto that “the sick are our Lords and Masters; we serve and treat,
Jesus heals”. For our institute, the Servants of the sick, we serve
the sick with an undivided heart since in the sick we see the person
of Jesus Christ. The sick is reflecting to us the suffering Christ on
the road to Calvary. The Hospital is manned by the Camillians; a religious
institution, under the care of Camillians priests this has created the
Pastoral ministry.
The
Pastoral ministry offers the spiritual support and growth to the patients.
It helps them to be strong in their faith and suffering. This is a ministry
of consolation; (Pastoral Counselling). Pastoral Care is a temporary
helping relationship between a pastoral care giver and the person in
need of care and support.
The
hospital has rendered this pastoral care since its! Inception. The hospital
chaplain, under the supervision of the fathers, heads the department.
We have six pastoral care givers working full time. Two of them are
working within the hospital; one is in charge of Surgical, Maternity
and Children’s wards. While the other, one is in charge of Medical Ward
2. The rest are working full time in the villages.
The
pastoral care givers who work in the wards move regularly
from bed to bed with words of consolation to the patients. They listen
to patients, keenly, hear their problems and assess their
needs. Those in need of sacramental administration the priests are therefore
informed. Those who might need financial help are recommended for any
possible help. Hence, these needs are met at a given point. The
team in the field is moving from door to door visiting the sick in the
villages. The team prays with them, nurse and console them. The sick
who are in entire need are recommended to come for treatment in the
hospital. Those who luck the basic human needs also get partial support.
Therefore,
this team of pastoral care group is working all the day long to console,
support, care and give spiritual healing to the sick and their families.
Counselling
Group
St.
Camillus Mission Hospital offers affordable Health services to the local
community. Besides the medical services it offers, there are other human
needs i.e. spiritual, social and psychological needs. To achieve this
the Hospital has spearheaded counselling service by training its personnel
in professional counselling. Generally, this department deals with issues
and problems related to the human growth and development.
Counselling
therefore is a mutual relationship between a counsellor and a counselee
to help the counselee to come up with possible resolutions regarding
this particular issue or problem. As regards HIV test, the client is
help to manage his or her health and prevent the spread of HIV. Clients
are reassured that information obtained during the counselling process
will remain confidential and that their privacy is respect.
For
that matter, St. Camillus Mission Hospital has a well-established
VC T Centre. The centre is open fully six days in a week and the counsellors
are available during these days. This V C T centre is open for both
the in-patients and out-patients and for all those who are willing to
know their .HIV status.
There
are 15 counsellors trained to the certificate level by Kenya Association
of Professional Counsellors (KAPC). Some of these counsellors are working
full time in the villages while most of them are within the Hospital
setting. This is a team of professionals, warm and friendly. Meet any
of us to have a wonderful experience together.
KAPC
Conference 2005 September 6 - 8
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