Clergy calls for vaccination of the elderly

The chairman of the Inter-faith council on Covid-19 response, Archbishop Anthony Muheria. [Courtesy]

The Inter-faith council for National Response to Coronavirus Pandemic has called on the elderly people (above 65 years) in the society to embrace the ongoing vaccination program.

‘We continue encouraging the elderly ober 65 years to worship from home due to the high danger of death the infection would place them in,’ read a part of the council’s statement.

In a Press statement on Tuesday morning, the chairman of the Inter-faith council Archbishop Anthony Muheria expressed his satisfaction with the efforts of the government in the fight against the pandemic as he lauded the ongoing vaccination process across the country.

The council, that brings together religious leaders drawn from various religions in the country, further called on the Ministry of Health to enhance public awareness creation by clearing any doubts arising from the vaccination process.

The statement also emphasised that no meals should be served at funerals and scaling down attendants to family members only (up to 100 people).

“No food should be served in Funerals. We wish to emphasize this because it is when people remove their masks to eat, that the risk is highest, since we disregard social distancing while serving and when eating. It is a sacrifice, but we need to protect ourselves, our sisters and brothers,” stated the Council.

Other measures put in place by the council are:

1. Maintaining a 1.5m social distance in funerals and places of worship

2. Special insistence should be made that all attendants must wear masks throughout the funeral. The family and the leader of the funeral should request anyone without a mask not to participate. The masks should be properly worn throughout the service.

3. Ensuring that there are adequate hand washing points in places of worship and funerals and where possible a record of temperature recording should be taken.

4. All physical contact must be avoided in places of worship, and regular sanitization of microphones or objects used by more than one person done frequently. This should be done before handing it from one person to another.

5. All Worship services should not exceed 120 minutes, and the places of worship be sanitized regularly. The Council said the number of services could be increased to reduce numbers in each service.

6. During the forthcoming weeks when several faith traditions have solemn periods, all gatherings must adhere to these guidelines and no processions or night vigil services are allowed.