Sarah Herrmann, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
An Aboriginal traditional healer has performed a spiritual cleansing at Wallaroo Hospital after Indigenous patients reported feeling uncomfortable while receiving health services there.
The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network invited traditional healer, or Ngangkari, Debbie Watson, from the APY Lands in northern South Australia, to help cleanse Wallaroo Hospital and the Wallaroo Community Health Building last week.
YNLHN senior Aboriginal health project officer Anthea Kemp said the move was made after comments from at least 17 different people.
“It was the result of feedback from the community that they felt uncomfortable walking into the service because they felt there were spirits around that needed to be removed,” Ms Kemp said.
She said the hospital had a responsibility to provide a welcoming environment. “One of the things about health and healing is that, if you have a positive mindset, it aids your healing in physical aspects,” she said.
“Whenever someone has that spiritual healing, they’re always very happy at the end of it.
“You can see the relief in their eyes.”
Fellow YNLHN senior Aboriginal health project officer John Buckskin said five people volunteered for healing with Ms Watson after her cleansing of the buildings.
“I believe it’s YNLHN’s first time engaging Ngangkaris,” he said.
“All the other regions, in partnership with mainstream health services, have been running Ngangkari clinics for many years, so we are hoping that this will be normal and continuing.
“It’s an exceptional step forward in acknowledging the cultural history of Aboriginal people nationwide.”
Ms Watson is a Pitjantjatjara healer who was taught the ancient healing practice by her father, according to the ANTAC website.
“Some people they stay behind,” she said.
“Some people when they die they’re still here.
“But the cleansing I’m doing is removing the spirit. “If there’s bad spirit inside we know it’s not cleansed.”
Other measures introduced to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access to healthcare include displaying Indigenous art, running cultural training and hiring more Indigenous people.
This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 16 July 2024.
