The Spirit of Global Health: The World Health Organization and the 'Spiritual Dimension' of Health, 1946-2021Since the beginning of the World Health Organization, many of its staff members, regional offices, member states, and directors-general have grappled with the question of what a 'spiritual dimension' of health looks like, and how it might enrich the health policies advocated by their organisations. Contrary to the wide-spread perception that 'spirituality' is primarily related to palliative care and has emerged relatively recently within the organisation, this study shows that its history is considerably longer and more complex, and has been closely connected to the WHO's ethical aspirations, its quest for more holistic and equitable healthcare, and its struggle with the colonial legacy of international health organisations. While such ideals and struggles silently motivated many of the key actors and policies - such as the provision of universal primary healthcare - which for decades have embodied the organisation's loftiest aspirations, the WHO's official relationship with 'spirituality' advanced in fits, leaps, and setbacks. At times creative and interdisciplinary, at others deeply political, this process was marked by cycles of institutional forgetting and remembering. Rather than as a triumph of religious lobbyists, this book argues, the 'spiritual dimension' of health may be better understood as a 'ghost' that has haunted - and continues to haunt - the WHO as it comes to terms with its mandate of advancing health as a state of 'complete well-being' available to all. |
Contents
1 | |
Holistic Ideals and the Spirit of International Health | 17 |
Ennobling Ideas The World Health Assembly Debates the Spiritual Dimension 19831984 | 42 |
From Religious Revival to Health Policy The WHOs Eastern Mediterranean Office 19812006 | 62 |
The Spirituality of Others and the WHO Discourse on Traditional Medicine | 83 |
Spiritual Care in the Context of Palliative Care and HIVAIDS | 113 |
Spirituality Religiousness and Personal Beliefs in the WHOs Quality of Life Measurement Instrument WHOQOLSRPB | 133 |
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According actors approach argued aspects attempt Brock Chisholm Cancer Pain Relief Change Chapter Christian Church Committee concept concerns conference constitution consultation context contribution countries cultural definition definition of health discussion disease documents early Eastern Mediterranean edited emerged EMRO engagement Executive Board Expert extent faith FBOs Geneva Global Health healing healthcare History holistic human ideas important included individual initiative institutional integration interest International Islamic Mahler meaning measures meeting Member Mental Health moral Oxford palliative palliative care patients Personal Beliefs physical political positive practices presented primary problems programme Promotion public health Quality questions Records reference Regional Office Religion religious representative resolution response Rights role Science Session Sigerist social spiritual dimension SRPB strategy suggested term Traditional Medicine understanding United Nations University Press values well-being Western WHO's WHOQOL World Health Assembly World Health Organization