adminTanaka Mahanya
Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (Udaciza) general secretary, Reverend Enock Chitanda, has called for church leaders to be considered as essential service workers in future health emergencies as they play essential roles in their communities.
He said people seek their services during health emergencies, and there is a need for them to be granted free movement from one place to another.
“As the church, we provide essential services to our people. When people get sick or die, they first contact church leaders, so they should be considered as essential service workers.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, people would come to us, and this shows how important the church is,” he said.
He said as front-line responders, they offer emotional support, provide guidance and counsel, and help to dispel myths and misconceptions about health issues.
In the context of Covid-19, he said they were instrumental in disseminating information about the virus and promoting vaccination.
“In most cases, when we visit church leaders to inquire about certain things pertaining to the pandemic, there are a lot of questions asked, which shows that they might have received wrong information.
“Church leaders should be given correct information on how the vaccines work because some people at church do not believe they save lives, but rather make the situation worse,” he said.
While acknowledging the World Health Organisation’s determination that Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, he said it remains vital to recognise and support the essential role of church leaders and other community leaders who play critical roles in public health promotion and response efforts.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter