Music Therapy and Healthcare: Insight from Ghana.

Abstract:

Music, an inextricable phenomenon which affects feelings, emotions and totally impact humans through orchestration of sound and silence and emits variety of sound frequencies. It also attracts attention and stimulate aesthetic feedback through performances. Above all, music is employed therapeutically to induce healing which ensures comfort and relief of pain in the lives of individuals who patronise music therapy in any form. The unstructured interview and the descriptive survey were used to elicit data from patients, hospital administrators, physicians, musicians and students. Findings indicated that music has comprehensive influence on humans, and is very instrumental in healthcare provision mainly through therapy. However, availability of the therapy services is almost non-existent with equally limited facilities and presence of trained personnel to provide the service, hence the low level of knowledge of its existence in Ghana. The writers recommend that, passionate attempt be carried out primarily by the government in collaboration with philanthropists and healthcare providers to uplift the level of consciousness of the public regarding music therapy and efficiently ensure its incorporation into the standard healthcare practices of Ghana to promote holistic healthcare provision for all.