A Catholic priest serving at St. Joseph Chiphwanya Parish in Dedza Diocese, Father Gerald Malota, has disclosed that the church has intensified efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy among communities in which they discharge their duties across Malawi. Malota made the remarks in Salima on Thursday during the biannual tour, which the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme (NTLEP) organized with financial support from the Global Fund.
He said the church has a critical role to play in demystifying traditional and spiritual beliefs, including superstitions and witchcraft, which are associated with TB and leprosy among most Malawians. “As a church, we believe that human life has to be viewed and taken from a holistic point of view. So we don’t just concentrate on saving souls, but also we know that there is a body attached.
So the human being is both body and soul. So we know that as we live our life here on earth, a human being will always have some difficulties and some of the difficulties or diseases that have been there, from even the biblical times of Jesus Christ,” said Malota. The cleric said the church has therefore intensified an awareness campaign in order to bring enlightenment among the faithful about the diseases.
Malota added that through its health facilities, the Catholic Church in Malawi teaches patients and guardians on how they can prevent the spread of diseases. “We also encourage people through our homilies and talks that we have in the.
