NEW: “Religious leaders should be considered essential staff”

Online Reporter

Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals’ (ZACH) partners have called for church leaders to be considered essential service staff in future health emergencies because of the influential role they play in communities.

Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (Udaciza) general secretary Reverend Enock Chitanda said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, people would come to us, including those who had lost relatives or were sick.

“With time we ended up moving around communities training people on the importance of vaccinations.

“So, if church leaders are able to explain concepts correctly, it means we can disseminate correct information.”

The Church played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic by advising and counselling its members.

At the peak of the pandemic, church leaders, who typically provide psycho-social and moral support, as well as conduct burials, were not considered among essential services providers.

ZACH training and programmes coordinator Ms Getrude Guvaya said they worked with religious leaders during the pandemic to disseminate information and encourage them to advise their members to get vaccinated.

“We had a programme with leaders of churches, under which they gave us reports on discussions they had with their congregants then they would advise us of challenges they faced.

“We then worked together to map out possible solutions,” she said.

Earlier in May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) made the determination that Covid-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue that no longer constitutes a public health emergency.

As at July 9, 2023, Zimbabwe had recorded 5 708 deaths from 265 662 Covid-19 cases.