Sun, 07 Jan 2018 13:05:29 +0000
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
THE cholera outbreak has knocked out church services in many parts of the country with Lusaka having a total ban in all affected areas.
This follows Ministry of Health directive banning all gatherings of more than 5 people
Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) general secretary Reverend William Zulu has announced cancellation of all their church programmes around Lusaka until further notice owing to the current cholera situation.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) have advised member churches to observe Ministry of Health ban of all public gatherings in worst affected areas that have recorded high cholera infection rates.
Chruch services and Mass has been cancelled in Kanyama, Garden House, Chibolya, Chawama, Misisi, Kuku, John Laing, John Howard and Jack compounds, Matero, Chunga, Lilanda, George compound, Chawama, Mandevu, Garden, Chaisa, Marapodi, Chipata, Mazyopa and all surrounding areas which have been identified to have high numbers of people getting infected to prevent further contamination.
Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka pastoral coordinator Father Thomas Banda announced yesterday that Mass has been suspended in all the affected areas for today 7th January and the next Sunday (14th January) 2018, as they await further instructions.
Father Banda has advised against communal processions, and have limited offertories which should not include fresh fruits and vegetables, dressed chickens and any ready-to-eat foods which might be contaminated.
CCZ general secretary Reverend Canon Emmanuel Chikoya in a communique to all member churches called for strict adherence to the prescribed preventative measures advised by the health experts including the ban of public gatherings.
“The areas which are the cholera epicenters cannot be allowed to hold church programs on Sunday and any other day until further notice.
“Church Services can be held in other areas outside these worst hit areas on Sunday as long as the highest levels of hygiene are maintained,” Reverend Chikoya said.
He further advised that every church must have short services and should provide adequate water and very clean toilets with soap and alternative hand sanitizers at entry and exit points to encourage personal hygiene for members.
He said Bishops and pastors must conduct very short worship services and that they should discourage handshakes.
And EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza has called on church leadership to take advantage of the gatherings to sensitize the people on cholera prevention.as well as mobilize manpower to help with cleaning around the compounds and the city.
“We need the church to contribute towards eradicating this problem that has claimed so many lives already. Sensitize your congregants against vandalizing cholera response intervention resources being installed in various townships,” he said.
Reverend Mwanza said there was a lot of work to be done in order to thoroughly clean the city and prevent the spread of the disease by corporating with authorities in burying of shallow wells in Kanyama and other affected areas.
He cautioned against listening to misleading statements that want to downplay the seriousness of the cholera crisis with some overzealous clergy claiming that cholera was a spiritual problem adding that “pray with wisdom so that we eliminate this problem quickly and effectively so that life can return to normal soon”.
