A person has died from Cholera and seven others have been infected in Balaka district, as their church leaders were praying for their healing at a prayer camp, since their religious belief forbids seeking medical treatment.
District Director of Health and Social Services, Dr. Eugine Katenga Kaunda, revealed this on Saturday when Deputy Minister of Health, Enock Phale, was inspecting Balaka District Hospital.
Dr. Kaunda could not give details of the church in question and their leaders. However, Phale described the development as worrisome, saying that some religious beliefs are fueling the Cholera spread.
He said, “It is worrisome that some churches are still denying their followers to seek medical treatment. It is sad we are losing lives due to those beliefs.”
The Deputy Minister of Health urged religious and traditional leaders to avoid misleading people in the name of cultural and religious beliefs, stressing that seeking medication is a human right.
The district chairperson of the rapid response team, Dr. Leone Lowole, also lamented that most patients report late to the hospital when the disease reaches its advanced stage.
Balaka is among the districts that have run out of stock of oral cholera vaccine.
However, Phale assures that this will be addressed soon. As of Friday, the district had recorded 802 cholera cases with 14 deaths.
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