VOL. 16, NO. 4 • WINTER 2010/2011
The Salvation Army and healthcare
caring The holistic ministries of The Salvation Army
“Sick people need to be treated holistically, and The Salvation Army health ministry is faithful and effective when it ministers to people as complete body-soul...”—DEAN PALLANT
To smile again by Emilee Langer
Life in all its fullness 14
by Dean Pallant
Pakistan prescription by Marguerite Ward
Healthy bodies, healthy souls, healthy communities by M. Christine MacMillan
Looking to the future by Edward Lyons
Calm in the chaos 16
by Sallyann C. Hood
WORKING THROUGH AUTISM by Barbara Brown THINKING HEALTHIER by Carol Seiler WELCOMED HOME by Beth Desplancke SHELTER FROM THE STORM by Sue Schumann Warner CLEAN WATER by Ted Horwood
22 25 27 28 30
7 10 14 16 19 21
40
425
INDEPENDENCE AT HOME by Carole-Anne Latta...............................33 TEMPLE OF HEALING by Yvis Gonzales de Otalora......................35 ON THE STREETS OF HONOLULU by Brian Saunders..................................36 RELATIONAL CARE by Matthew Jensen..................................38 DUAL RESPONSIBILITY by Cindy-Lou Drummond.........................40 GIFT CARD GIVER by Gisele Nelson.....................................42
Do no harm From a dental care facility in Pennsylvania, to a corps covering sewage drains in Paksitan, to a program delivering prescriptions to the elderly in Scotland, The Salvation Army is promoting and producing better health for humanity.
MY CORNER 2 • PERSPECTIVE 3 • IN THE NEWS 4 • AND FINALLY... 44 WINTER 2010/2011 • VOL. 16, NO. 4
DOING THE MOST GOOD
WINTER 2010/2011 CARING PAGE 1
PERSPECTIVE
Repair and restore More than fixing broken parts Good health is a luxury, and one that BY I’ve long taken advantage of. Besides CHRISTIN one broken arm, I’ve not had many DAVIS encounters with the medical field,
though access to it is readily available when needed. This puts me in the minority. In some countries, only 20 percent of people report receiving medical care when they needed it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States, Gallup research indicates one in six (16.3 percent) American adults remain uninsured today, putting medical care out of reach. Of those who do receive care, many have trouble paying for it. Approximately 50 percent of personal bankruptcies are due to medical expenses, according to Health Affairs. The health care expenditure in the U.S. is the highest of any developed country, at 15.3 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It’s no question that health care is most definitely a hot topic, especially as the U.S. is ripe with debate over health care reform, insurance industry modifications and new legislation. The problems are of critical concern, and there are no simple answers. Improving health In September 2010, 140 heads of state and government met at the United Nations (UN) to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals, which were created in 2000 for achievement by 2015. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said the goals, “embody basic human rights—the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter and security.” A resulting 31-page summit outcome document reaffirms the commitment to these goals and focuses on actions, policies and strategies to support the
countries that are behind in reaching the goals by 2015 (see more at un.org/en/mdg/summit2010). Despite all debate, improvements are happening, according to the WHO 2010 World Health Statistics report. Fewer children are dying, fewer children are underwieight, more women get skilled help during childbirth, fewer people are contacting HIV and more people have safe drinking water (See statistics on page 44). Holistic care We have a goal in The Salvation Army to repair and restore people. Those who might not enter a Salvation Army building any other way may be willing to receive care or information at one of our 29 hospitals, 135 health centers, 64 mobile clinics or 648 health education programs. Major Dean Pallant, international health services coordinator, recently completed a two-year review of Salvation Army health ministries around the world with his wife, Major (Dr.) Eirween Pallant. “People in every community want to be healthy, but many are sick,” he writes in his analysis (pg. 10). “Sick people need to be treated holistically, and Salvation Army health ministry is most faithful and effective when it ministers to people as complete body-soul, resisting the modern temptation to merely fix a few broken parts.” From a dental center in Pennsylvania, to a corps covering sewage drains in Pakistan, to a program delivering prescriptions to the elderly in Scotland, The Salvation Army is promoting and producing better health for humanity. n Christin Davis is the editor of Caring and managing editor of New Frontier Publications.
DOING THE MOST GOOD
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