Touching lives and giving hope in health care
Collaboration of the University of Pretoria (UP)’s Faculty of Theology and Religion with HospiVision, a Section 21 non-profit company, is culminating in the presentation of an international conference in October 2025 with the purpose of expanding the scope of spiritual care research in South African health care. Lecturers in UP’s Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies are among the esteemed scholars who will deliver presentations at the conference. This conference was made possible by the support of the John Templeton Foundation.
Dr Annemarie Oberholzer, HospiVision’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), describes the organisation as a beacon of hope for patients navigating illness and hospitalisation, often without emotional or material support. “Operating in Gauteng and the Western Cape, we bring spiritual care, counselling and skills development to some of the most vulnerable individuals in public health care.” It is a trusted source of hope, care and empowerment for adults and children facing the challenges of illness and hospitalisation.
She declares that, while public health care in South Africa faces significant challenges, HospiVision chooses to focus on being part of the solution. “Through the unwavering support of our donors, stakeholders and dedicated team, we are making a tangible difference in this field. By addressing the needs of patients and health care staff, we offer hope and healing where it is needed most, and are thankful for the growth and impact of our counselling services.”
Together with Enterprises University of Pretoria, four courses are currently being presented that enable delegates to develop the necessary skills to make a meaningful impact in their communities: Addressing Spirituality in Palliative Care, Holistic Care and Support for Sick and Vulnerable Children, Spiritual Care and Counselling for the Sick, and Trauma Counselling. These courses, which are hosted by the Faculty of Theology and Religion’s Centre for Faith and Community, and Enterprises UP, are designed to empower delegates with the practical knowledge and tools needed to bring about positive change in countless lives. Upon conclusion of these courses, delegates receive a certificate from UP.
These are among the online training opportunities that HospiVision offers free of charge to its staff members, ensuring that they are fully equipped to excel in their roles and uphold the organisation’s commitment to excellence.
HospiVision also offers its own skills training courses in sewing, crochet, baking, gardening and computer literacy. These training programmes help people regain agency over their lives and build new pathways to employment.
Dr Oberholzer says that the organisation’s dedicated staff members and volunteers, including Psychology Honours graduates and final-year students from UP, have been essential in delivering emotional support and counselling services to patients in its areas of operation. The facilities that have close ties with UP’s Department of Psychology include Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, Mamelodi Hospital, Kalafong Hospital and the Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital. Psychology Honours students who participate in the organisation’s volunteer programme are able to gain one year of clinical exposure while preparing to apply for a master’s programme in clinical psychology.
Students in the Faculty of Theology and Religion’s Centre for Faith and Community also provide spiritual care on a voluntary basis. “Through our compassionate ministry,” says Dr Oberholzer, “we extend a caring hand to patients, their families and caregivers, guiding them through the difficult journey of illness with warmth and understanding.” These services extend to hospital staff members, who are offered counselling and debriefing to support their mental and emotional wellbeing as they navigate the demands of health care work.
Dr Oberholzer adds that HospiVision is currently working with UP’s Department of Family Medicine to integrate spirituality into the undergraduate MBChB curriculum.
The HospiVision Research Institute, established in 2022 to explore the link between spirituality and health through multidisciplinary research, has several funding opportunities available, and invites funding proposals that support the development of high-quality scientific research on the relationship between religion and spirituality, and health.
Dr Oberholzer concludes that HospiVision welcomes any form of support, whether it is time, skill or resources, that can help someone reclaim their dignity and find hope again.