A Public Health expert, Dr. Benjamin Arhin, has called on pastors, Mallams, traditional healers, and other spiritual practitioners to stop discouraging sick people from seeking professional medical care, urging them instead to refer patients to hospitals for proper treatment.
According to Dr. Arhin, while prayer and spiritual support have their place, illnesses such as kidney disease, heart failure, and other serious medical conditions require timely medical intervention and should not be managed solely through spiritual means.
He warned that delaying hospital treatment by keeping patients in churches, prayer camps, or homes can worsen their conditions and, in some cases, lead to preventable deaths.
“I am appealing to pastors, Mallams, traditional healers, and all spiritual practitioners not to prevent sick people from going to the hospital. Encourage them to seek medical treatment first because many illnesses require professional medical care,” he said.
Dr. Arhin stressed that his comments should not be interpreted as an attack on religion or faith healing.
“I am not saying people should stop praying. Prayer is important, but when someone falls ill, the hospital should be the first point of call. Medical treatment and prayer can go hand in hand.”
He further cautioned religious leaders and spiritual practitioners against giving patients false hope or making claims that could discourage them from seeking appropriate healthcare.
Diseases such as kidney failure, heart disease, and many other serious conditions cannot be treated by spiritual means alone. These patients need qualified healthcare professionals and the right medical interventions.”
The public health expert also advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid individuals who exploit vulnerable patients by promising miraculous cures while collecting money from them.
“People must open their eyes and be careful. Some individuals deceive sick people with false promises of healing, take their money, and delay the treatment they urgently need. By the time they finally get to the hospital, it may already be too late.”
Dr. Arhin therefore urged Ghanaians to seek prompt medical attention whenever they fall ill and to rely on qualified health professionals for diagnosis and treatment, while using prayer as a source of spiritual support rather than a substitute for medical care.
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