ZCCB Communications Department
 |
| Bishop Patrick Chisanga; bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mansa |
In his initiative, Bishop Chisanga donated bottles of assorted soap, face masks and buckets that are used as water dispensers to wash hands. He donated these to five different main markets around Mansa Town.
The Bishop also reached out to the disabled by donating face masks to persons with disabilities through their agency.
Bishop Chisanga was accompanied by the Diocese’s Pastoral Co-ordinator Fr. Patrick Kabaso, the Diocese’s Health Co-ordinator Sr. Delphine Kalisha, the Deputy Mayor of Mansa and other senior members of Mansa Diocese and the Local Government.
During the donation, Bishop Chisanga urged the people to take and accept his donation as an exhortation and encouragement to them to ensure that they protect themselves and to encourage their clients to protect themselves from the virus.
He told the marketeers, shop owners and shop keepers that "if we act together, we can stop the spread and prevent a possible catastrophe from ever happening."
Bishop Chisanga also encouraged the people to call on God in their various faiths.
“We can only do so much on own, but it is all up to God to save humanity as He did once before,” he continued.
Accepting the donations on behalf of Government, the Deputy Mayor thanked the Bishop for the initiative in supplementing government efforts to reach out, sensitize and provide necessary utilities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Deputy Mayor also urged the marketeers and market authorities to keep and adhere to the strict code of personal and public hygiene.
The marketeers were elated and humbled by the Bishop’s concern for them and all the people of Mansa Town. They promised him to keep the sensitization and fight against the Covid-19 alive.
Later in the day Bishop Chisanga held a prayer service at Ipusukilo Centre where he consecrated and dedicated the Cross to the fight against COVID-19 in Luapula.
He invited to the prayer service Bishop Robert Mumbi of the Anglican Diocese and Bishop Chitalu of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Mansa.
The latest statistics show that as of May 15, 2020, Zambia 654 cases, with 7 deaths and 124 recovered and the graph shows a daily increase of new cases.