Sundaymail Editor
Emmanuel Kafe
IN response to the measles outbreak and risk of polio infections from neighbouring countries, indigenous Apostolic churches have taken heed of the Government’s call to immunise children against the contagious diseases.
Authorities have partly blamed the spread of measles, an acute viral respiratory illness affecting children, on ignorance of some Apostolic sect churches that refuse to have their members vaccinated.
The Government, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners are embarking on intensified measles and polio vaccination campaigns countrywide.
In an interview with this publication, president of the Federation of Indigenous Churches in Zimbabwe (FICZ), which represents more than 5 000 indigenous churches, said congregants should move with time and realise that medication, just like the word of God, is meant to save them.
“We are encouraging our members to have their children vaccinated against measles and polio, diseases that are slowly becoming epidemics. We have practising medical practitioners and doctors within our churches whom we have mandated with the task of raising awareness to other members on the importance of protecting children from such contagious diseases,” he said.
Show their commitment
Bishop Mabhiza said to show their commitment to the immunisation programme, his church, the St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World, FICZ is donating ambulances to improve access to health services.
“The first ambulance was donated to Chipiwa Clinic in Mkwasine, Chiredzi district. If we as the church do not lead in these initiatives, responding to outbreaks will be expensive and cost lives. The only sustainable response is prevention, by ensuring every child is immunised, at the right time and with the right vaccines,” he said.
Council of Churches in Africa (CCA) president Bishop Rocky Moyo, whose organisation represents indigenous churches from over 40 countries in Africa, said they are intensifying the call for children in their churches to get immunised.
“We are raising awareness on the importance of vaccination against not only measles, but also all other inoculations deemed necessary for the protection of children. We are using social mobilisation in Apostolic communities to reach out to our congregants.”
This year, 648 children have died from 5 843 cases of measles, first reported in April in Mutasa district, Manicaland.
The Public Health Act Chapter 15.17 prescribes compulsory immunisation of children and incapacitated persons.
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