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Archbishop Tutu: "Health must be inclusive of spiritual well-being" |
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In an inspiring speech to delegates attending the 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva recently, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu challenged governments and policy makers to do better to fulfil the promise of health for all. He called the right to health a sacred and solemn covenant.
Extracts of a statement by Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus, Cape Town, South Africa and Nobel Prize Laureate, to the 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva:
"Health not only encompasses the physical, mental and social well-being, but must be inclusive of spiritual well-being. Let me explain: I have a favourite book of cartoons by the late Mel Calman of the London Observer newspaper entitled, “My God”. One shows God somewhat nonplussed and saying, “Oh dear, I think I have lost my copy of the Divine Plan!” Looking at the state of the world we might be forgiven for wondering if God ever had a plan at all.
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu: " Then there are those leaders playing havoc with the well-being, the
health of their people. In these places, even the children are enlisted
into ranks of soldiers. Likewise, parents watch helplessly as their
children succumb, either because medication is rendered useless because
of lack of electricity and so of refrigeration, or they are held up at
check points and may fail to reach the hospital in time, if at all.
Beloved, health cannot be de-linked or separated from the killing
effects of living under the bonds of terror, oppression and tyranny."
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There are devastating floods in one part and destructive droughts in other parts. Couldn’t God have organised things better so that there was enough water for all? Then there are all the man-made disasters of tyranny and oppression, an endless doleful catalogue of woe. There are the long lines of bedraggled refugees from natural and man-made disasters. We have the casualties of racism, ethnic strife and xenophobia and staring us in the face is the looming catastrophe of climate change and ecological degradation signalled by tsunamis, cyclones and hurricanes.
Easily preventable diseases
And you would be particularly aware of the devastation caused by disease – TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS, river blindness, polio, cholera, infant mortality, maternal illnesses, many fuelled by poverty – children dying of easily preventable diseases if they could but get the inexpensive vaccination/inoculation; many illnesses resulting from a lack of clean water, proper sanitation and decent housing.
There is also evil when we refuse or become immobilized by bureaucracies or corruption to provide the needed remedy to heal the nations. We must never forget that as government leaders, we have a calling to dispel ignorance, restore justice and defend liberty.
We have this calling to ensure peace and build good health. Much disease and heartbreak is preventable if governments had the political will – the 15% Now campaign seeks to urge African Heads of State to honour their pledges and so prevent unnecessary deaths of 8 million of their citizens.
Then there are those leaders playing havoc with the well-being, the health of their people. In these places, even the children are enlisted into ranks of soldiers. Likewise, parents watch helplessly as their children succumb, either because medication is rendered useless because of lack of electricity and so of refrigeration, or they are held up at check points and may fail to reach the hospital in time, if at all. Beloved, health cannot be de-linked or separated from the killing effects of living under the bonds of terror, oppression and tyranny.
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