Spread COVID-19 Messages of Hope To Ugandans - Dr. Musenero Urges Pentecostal Leaders

Dr. Monica Musenero (Photo above), the Presidential Advisor on Epidemics, has urged leaders of the Pentecostal faith to make use of any opportunity to grow their understanding of the COVID-19 virus saying that the best protection in times of outbreak of disease is knowledge.

Dr. Musenero, an epidemiologist by training, made these remarks during an engagement meeting termed ‘COVID-19 Messages of Hope’ that was organized by Mildmay Uganda at the Imperial Royale Hotel.

“Every time the world has been challenged, people have turned to religious leaders for guidance and counsel,” she said. “Sadly, at the beginning of the pandemic, many religious leaders had doubts and it has taken time for them to realize that the virus is real and it needed to be stopped. I am glad that this thinking has stopped.”

She urged the faith leaders to embrace the government vaccination drive, dispelling myths and misconception that have clouded the on-going exercise.

“I ask of you to embrace the AstraZeneca vaccine and stop picking false information from social media platforms,” Dr. Musenero said. “Myths that the vaccine contains chips are false. The ideas that vaccines have been made to kills us just don’t make sense because you have all been immunized as children and you are alive today. Infact, vaccines have ensured that we have very few children die of diseases that used to claim lives back in the day. Your chances of dying of COVID-19 when infected are 1000 more likely if you are not vaccinated compared to a person who has been fully vaccinated – the choice is entirely on you now.”

She ended her address with a plea to the leaders not to be pastors of their followers in church, but of the communities where they live.

For the last two months, Mildmay Uganda, with funding from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has interacted with faith leaders from the Anglican, Muslim, Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist faiths, sensitizing them on giving hope to people in their respective communities that indeed, when united, Uganda will over come the COVID-19 pandemic. The engagements have urged the leaders to embrace survivors of the virus, and speak out against stigma towards them, whilst advocating for observing of the set standard operating procedures. At the end of every engagement meeting, WhatsApp Groups have been formed to allow continuous flow of information that will include sharing of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials that contain messages of support and hope against the epidemic.