Unpacking fake prophets, healers and healthcare in Africa with Catherine Kyobutungi

We are thrilled to have Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi back on the show. Our conversation explores the impact of prophets and spiritual healers on people's health across Africa and beyond. We discuss the disturbing revelations from the documentary about TB Joshua and the manipulation, abuse, and exploitation committed by him and other religious leaders. We examine the prevalence of faith healing in Africa and the reasons behind the strong religious beliefs on the continent. The need for integration between science and religion is highlighted, along with the challenges faced by African scientists and healthcare practitioners. We also explore the lack of accountability and the difficulty of achieving justice when there is collusion between politics and religion. Catherine emphasizes the importance of resisting oppression and treating patients with respect and calls for reevaluating power dynamics in science and policy, urging scientists to listen and engage with communities. Enjoy! 

Takeaways

• Accountability is often lacking in cases of wrongdoing, particularly in religious and political contexts.
• Collusion between politics and religion can make accountability even more challenging.
• Resisting oppression and treating patients with respect is crucial in healthcare and research.
• Power dynamics in science and policy need to be examined, and scientists should listen to and engage with communities.
• Humility and creating space for discussions are essential in addressing pervasive problems.

Follow Catherine on X: @CKyobutungi

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