As healthcare providers, we are responsible to deliver care that is respectful of and responsive to the patient’s cultural beliefs and values. In a diverse society such as South Africa, this means acknowledging and valuing these differences so that care is meaningful to each patient and their family.
To provide culturally sensitive care in my workplace, I need to communicate effectively and use interpreters if needed. I need to include parents, grandparents and other community members in discussions if the family request it. I also need to accept that I don’t know everything about every culture (especially in South Africa) and I need to be open and curious to learn from my patient’s.
