BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE- The Ministry of Health has officially launched its New Year Opening Prayer Services, reaffirming the role of faith as a foundation for health service delivery, workforce resilience, and national wellbeing.
The launch took place at Mountain View on Monday, January 26, 2026 and was officiated by the Minister of Health, Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula, who said the initiative was not simply about marking the start of a new calendar year, but about anchoring the work of the health sector in prayer, faith, and shared values.
“This moment is not about turning a page on the calendar,” said Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula. “It is about reaffirming a timeless truth that faith, service, and the wellbeing of our nation are inseparably bound together.”
The Minister said the Kingdom of Eswatini has long been guided by Christian values of compassion, humility, service, and respect for human life, values that continue to be lived daily by health workers across hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and communities.
He highlighted the historic role of Christianity in shaping the country’s social services, particularly health and education, noting that faith-based institutions were at the forefront of caring for the sick and vulnerable long before modern systems were established.
“The Ministry of Health does not operate in isolation,” he said. “We work within a moral and spiritual ecosystem that recognises health as a gift from God and healing as a consecrated responsibility.”
Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula emphasised that the health workforce carries immense responsibility, facing long working hours, emotional strain, resource constraints, and life-and-death decisions. He said prayer provides strength, wisdom, endurance, compassion, and protection for those who serve under such demanding conditions.
While acknowledging the importance of policies, strategies, and budgets, the Minister stressed that divine guidance remains indispensable in building a resilient and ethical health system.
“A nation that prays together builds cohesion. A workforce that serves with faith builds trust. A health system guided by ethical and spiritual values builds resilience and sustainability,” he said.
The launch also symbolised strengthened partnership between government, the church, development partners, communities, and individuals. Hon. Matsebula said the Church remains a strategic partner in public health, health promotion, psychosocial support, and community mobilisation.
Addressing the organising committee, the Minister cited John 6:11, likening their work to the offering of the loaves and fish, and thanked them for their dedication, noting that efforts offered with willing hearts are received and multiplied by God.
The New Year Opening Prayer Services will be rolled out across the regions under the theme “Renewed Strength for a Healthier Nation” (Jeremiah 33:6), which speaks to God’s promise of healing, peace, and security.
The confirmed regional dates are Lubombo on January 28, Manzini on January 29, Shiselweni on January 30, and Hhohho in February.
Also speaking at the launch, Xolisile Dlamini, Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee, emphasised the importance of seeking the Kingdom of God first as the foundation for leadership, service, and effective health delivery.
She said health must be understood holistically, explaining that true wellbeing encompasses the physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions of life.
“When we define health, we speak of being well in the flesh and in the spirit,” said Dlamini. “The presence of God gives direction and clarity in the work we do.”
The prayer services are expected to provide spaces for reflection, unity, and recommitment among health workers as the Ministry continues to respond to existing and emerging health challenges across the Kingdom.
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