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Editorial
What's special about Christian healthcare?

The question is not about religion but about the truth of God. Christians see themselves as accountable to God. Atheists deny his existence. Christians accept certain unchangeable values but Secular Humanists measure right and wrong by consequences, the goodness or badness of which change with circumstances. There are areas of healthcare where the Christian approach does not fit the secular one.

Evangelism is about telling the truth. There may be limits to what the patient can understand or wants to know but the doctor should be prepared to share both the truth about his illness and the reasons for hope beyond this life. In the midst of an AIDS epidemic this skill is greatly needed.

Evidence when true supports accountability to God. Medical data has sometimes been corrupted because it threatened professional and financial profit. But some evidence goes beyond what can be measured. Faith is the evidence of relationship with God. The resultant healing may not be measurable and when it is may be ignored by the secular mind e.g. the influence of faith on reducing HIV prevalence in Uganda.

Ethics. Issues of reproductive health and respect for human life are being imposed on Christian parents, patients and professionals who consider them wrong.

Christian doctors do not see themselves as better than others but they do see themselves as answerable to God who sees our every thought and word and action but still loves us.


In this edition:
 Editorial
 Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
 Leprosy, Lentils and Love
 Hospital de Meskine, Cameroon
 Herbertpur Hospital, North India
 Patan Hospital, Nepal
 Kapsowar Hospital, Kenya
 Mukinge Hospital, Zambia
 Are Therapists Needed in the Developing World?
 A Medical Reception On Board The Mercy Ship MV Anastasis
 MMA HealthServe's Vision Statement

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