Story by Tawanda Mazhangara
MASH EAST- THE church is complementing government efforts in combating malaria, with over 80 church leaders from Mashonaland East converging to launch an action plan to combat the disease in Mutoko recently.
The engagement, spearheaded by Faith Leaders Advocacy for Malaria Elimination (FLAME) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s National Malaria Programme, aimed to capacitate faith leaders to effectively champion malaria control efforts within their congregations and local communities.
Participants were drawn from high-burden districts including Mudzi, Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Mutoko and Murehwa.
Addressing the workshop, guest speaker Reverend Father Kampala from the Anglican Church in Zambia urged faith leaders to expand their influence beyond the pulpit.
“Our congregants look for us for guidance, not just spiritually but in every aspect of their wellbeing. Faith leaders must rise to the challenge of safeguarding lives as we partner government in the fight against this preventable and treatable disease,” he said.
Religious leaders in attendance expressed a firm commitment to taking the malaria message to their communities.
“This workshop was very fruitful. We are talking about saving lives, and as human beings, we are commanded by God to do so,” Sheik Ishmael Duwa said.
“We thank FLAME for bringing together various denominations to discuss the fight against malaria. Participants are eager to take this advocacy work back to their districts,” Methodist Church, Bishop Edmore Chiota said.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care acknowledged the critical role that religious leaders play in reaching remote and vulnerable communities with life-saving information.
“We are very appreciative of this workshop because if brings in churches in the fight against malaria. Everybody now knows that the Ministry of Health is there for them,” Social and Behaviour Change Communication Officer, National Malaria Control Programme, Fortunate Manjoro said.
The meeting resolved to roll out district-level awareness campaigns, resource mobilisation efforts and integrated messaging through places of worship to enhance community-level response to malaria.
Zimbabwe remains committed to its 2021–2025 Malaria Strategic Plan, which aims to significantly reduce malaria-related mortality by 2026 and achieve complete elimination by 2030.
