DR ROBERT SWAYZERON MONDAY 31 MAY, the Ministry of Health and Social Services held a consultation with religious leaders about the role of the religious community in supporting Namibia’s Covid-19 vaccination roll-out.
The meeting was attended by more than 150 people, split between those who were able to attend in person, compliant with health regulations, and participants who watched the event being livestreamed.
Prevention measures were in place throughout to ensure the safety of those who attended in person.
Pastors from different denominations, as well as representatives from the health ministry and the World Health Organisation, were speakers at the meeting, sharing information on vaccines, as well as discussing and debating religious beliefs, questions and myths.
Topics of discussion included the role religious leaders can play in encouraging people to get vaccinated, addressing myths about the vaccine, and an overview of the vaccination roll-out in Namibia.
The meeting was concluded with an extended question-and-answer session, highlighting the importance of this type of meeting between representatives from both the ministry and the religious community.
Reverend Andre September, one of the presenters at the meeting, highlighted the importance of the church in sharing information.
He said: “The church should be a beacon of hope and shine a bright light in a world of darkness, empowered and equipped to be messengers of unity, trust and truth against the voices promoting division, suspicion and unsubstantiated rumours.”
Minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula commended the participants for coming together, and called for the support of the religious community to provide their communities with factual information.
Quoting Proverbs 11:14, Shangula said: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
The consensus of the meeting, from both the health ministry and religious leaders, was that there is much more work to be done.
Many people feel nervous or hesitant about being vaccinated, and religious leaders could help meet the need for factual information.
The ministry plans further meetings with religious leaders to provide a platform for discussion to continue empowering religious leaders to support their communities. Monday’s meeting was made possible by funding from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with the Task Force for Global Health.
The third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit Namibia, and many people in the country have not been vaccinated.
On a personal level, I am a Christian and I have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
My Christian beliefs are grounded in the importance Jesus placed on physical healing in addition to spiritual healing, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
* Dr Robert Swayzer is the acting director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Namibia.
