Sarah Pelaji and Dalphina Rubyema
Religious leaders in the country have advised Government to provide Covid-19 data so that people know the trend of Covid-19 in the country. They have also urged hospitals and health centres in the country to provide free care to people with symptoms of the disease regardless of health insurance.
These calls were among the resolutions expressed by the Religious leaders meeting under the inter-religious body which comprises of the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), Muslims Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).
At the meeting which was held on 28th May at CCT Women's Training Center in Morogoro Region (in the eastern part of Tanzania) the religious leaders said the intention of asking government to provide such data is to enable the public to understanding the spread of the pandemic and responding appropriately, while putting efforts on fighting against Covid-19.
The religious leaders said transparency about the spread of the virus in the country will also removes the fear and the darkness which has shrouded the nation as people do not know what exactly is going on.
The leaders have further called upon government to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to hospitals and health centers in the country, regardless of whether they are public, private or religious owned.
Also, they have suggested the purchase of testing kits for Coronavirus and respiratory machines in various regions of the country as they insisted on testing kits for a mass testing exercise in the country.
The inter-religious group insisted to their faithful that Covid-19 is real and a threat in the country and the entire world, hence it is important that the general public continues to follow the protective measures in accordance with health professionals’ recommendations while they continue to put their faith in God who overcomes all evil.
During the meeting, health professionals from various health institutions and hospitals owned by CCT, BAKWATA, and TEC presented situation reports about the Coronavirus pandemic.
They noted that the most common challenge is fear among patients, lack of testing kits and protective facilities of doctors and nurses.
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| The President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference Most Rev. Gervacy Nyaisonga signing the child protection policy of inter religious in Tanzania |
On his part, the Health Director of Christian Social Service Commission (CSSC), Dr. Josephine Balati said a study conducted by the commission in various parts of the country shows that many hospitals and health facilities did not have protective equipment for its staff, which makes them afraid of getting infections from the patients.
"What they are doing is to receive patients and then those who are showing symptoms associated with the Coronavirus are allocated a special room," said Dr. Balati on behalf of health facilities managed by TEC and CCT.
On the part of BAKWATA Health program, Dr. Rahma Omar said that it is important for the religious leaders to continue to praying for the people, but this must go hand in hand with giving to the public proper health information and advice.
During the meeting, the religious leaders had the opportunity to discuss a Child Protection Policy drafted by TIP and eventually signed by senior leaders including TEC’s President Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, Chairman of the BAKWATA Executive Committee, Sheikh Said Mataka and Chairman of the CCT, Bishop Dr. Alinikisa Cheyo.