In this article, we will discuss important news regarding churches in Zambia. In fact, they received a directive aimed at restricting worship sessions to a maximum of two hours. This measure, issued by Ndiwa Mutelo, a high-ranking religious official, aims to limit the spread of diseases, particularly cholera.
In addition to the limitation on worship time, it is now prohibited to sell perishable and ready-to-eat foods on church premises. This measure aims to prevent contamination of the faithful by potentially contaminated food.
Additionally, to minimize the risk of disease transmission, worshipers are strongly encouraged to avoid handshakes and hugs. It is essential to maintain strict hygiene within places of worship.
As part of this directive, churches must now provide drinking water points, designated handwashing stations and alcohol-based hand sanitizers for their congregants.
These measures are all the more urgent as Zambia has been facing a major cholera epidemic since last October, with more than 7,800 cases recorded. In the last 24 hours alone, the Ministry of Health has recorded more than 400 new cases and 18 deaths.
This latest intervention aims to mitigate the impact of the cholera epidemic, emphasizing the collective responsibility of religious institutions in protecting public health.
It is important that churches take these guidelines seriously and put in place the necessary safety measures to protect their congregants and help prevent the spread of disease.
In conclusion, this directive to restrict worship sessions and impose strict hygiene measures in churches in Zambia is an urgent response to the cholera epidemic plaguing the country. Churches have a critical role to play in protecting public health and must put these measures in place to keep their congregations safe.