MoH, MIAA engages Zion, Apostolic faiths on health uptake

Dedza, January 21, Mana: Ministry of Health says the faith community represents nearly 80% of the population it serves, therefore, it is essential for this community to have a proper understanding of the importance of seeking medical health services.

The remarks were made on Tuesday at Mountain View Lodge in Dedza District where the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health, Responsible for Health Promotion Services, Dr. Kondwani Mamba, opened a three-day engagement between his ministry, Malawi Interfaith Aids Association (MIAA) and the representatives from Zion and Apostolic Churches.

According to Mamba, Malawi as a God fearing nation, has people with different religious beliefs and such meetings are crucial for successful health service delivery in communities.

“Normally we face some challenges in the ministry when it comes to response to outbreaks, even as we deliver our normal health services. We have some religious beliefs that prohibits members from accessing medical services.

“So, in this meeting, we have invited such faith communities so that we engage each other, and make sure that we understand the issues that surround us and why as a ministry we would want everyone to access health services,” stated Mamba.

He said they want to reach a compromise where the faith community should be encouraging as well as mobilizing their congregants to access health services as it is supposed to be.

Mamba further said that he noted that from the beginning of their discussions, the participants impressed him and he realized that it was one of the key forums they were missing as a ministry.

“It is motivating to also note that the two sides are sharing experiences and we hope by the end of this meeting we are going to reach a consensus so that everyone in the country regardless of where they worship, should be accessing health services,” said Mamba.

MIAA, Director of Programs, Wellington Nkhoma, said Zion and Apostolic faiths are two major religious institutions that have the tendency of not patronizing medical health services in the country.

“So with support from the United Nation’s Children’s Funds (UNICEF) and with technical expertise from MoH, we are trying to understand barriers that hold them from accessing the medical services while also aligning these in terms of what they do when it comes to healing and what the ministry does on the same and bringing them to a common ground,” he said.

He added that it is their wish that at the end of the three days, the two faith groups, understand the concept of healing as presented in the bible but also be able to understand the relationship between, faith, healing and education which are key to making sure that the country develops.

On his part, Prophet Dr. Lex Kalolo, Leader of Altar and Liberty Church of All Nations, who is also President of the Association of Prophets in the country, said apart from hearing from the two sides they will also reach a consensus of how all this affects the well-being of people.

“During our deliberations at the start of our engagement, we agreed that good health, education and beliefs go together and were all brought together by the missionaries. And this is what we wanted to see happening. It is our wish that colleagues under Zion and the apostolic faith should start seeking medical services and also access education,” he said.

Kalolo said the meeting is also necessary as the country is eyeing for the Malawi 2063 Agenda which calls for unity hence for the faith leaders to understand their roles in advocating for health uptake, good beliefs and access to education, thereby having a healthy Malawi that will see everyone achieving the MW2063 Agenda together.