Experts in 'spiritual care' open conference in Amman

AMMAN — Medical experts and religious scholars from around the world met in Amman on Wednesday to share their views and expertise in healing through spiritual therapy, and using it in palliative care.

The second International Conference in Palliative Care and First in Spiritual Therapy was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Muna at the University of Jordan (UJ). 

Speaking at the event, attended by Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab — who was deputising for Princess Muna, Nursing Faculty Dean at UJ Manar Nabulsi stressed the need to activate and expand palliative care services to all chronic diseases in order to improve patients’ life quality, and ease the burden off their families and society. 

Jordanian Society for Palliative Care and Pain Treatment President Muhammad Bushnaq noted in his remarks that the World Health Organisation has recognised spirituality as one of the main domains in improving and sustaining people’s health. 

“Spirituality means helping people to enjoy a better lifestyle and inner peace by adopting self-care, self-acceptance, harmony of their own values and enjoying a noble mission in their lives” Bushnaq told The Jordan Times. 

The expert said at the opening ceremony that the Western countries are more aware of the importance of spiritual therapy and palliative care, citing the fact that in the US, 55 per cent of hospitals that have more than 100 beds provide palliative care services. 

“We have always believed that medicine alone can help people enjoy a better life, but we were wrong, having ignored the fact that spiritual therapy has a big role in creating inner peace,” he added. 

“Spiritual therapy not only improves patients’ lives but also prolongs them,” Bushnaq said. 

Around 200 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and workers in healthcare from Jordan and the Arab world are participating in the two-day conference, where 15 papers will be discussed and five workshops and three panel discussions will take place, said Fatheya Abu Maghli, the event’s president.