Eugene Mutara
26 June 2009
Kigali — Religious groups engaged in the fight against HIV& AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, have called for more funding from government and donors in their effort to curb the pandemics.
"Faith based organisation have a very significant role in fighting any pandemic, when malaria comes, it does not choose any specific denomination, it can kill each one of us," said Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, head of the Anglican Church of Rwanda
He was addressing a one-day conference under the theme: "Counting out Malaria in Rwanda; the role of faith based organisations."
A Global Fund report released last year recommended that faith-based organisations play a bigger role in fighting the diseases.
According to Demographic Health Survey (DHS) there is a big potential in faith-based organisations in the fight against the diseases.
The DHS has indicated that 40% of health facilities in Rwanda are owned by religious organisations and provide prevention, care and treatment services for various diseases including Malaria.
"About 96% of Rwandans adhere to different religious organisations which makes it possible to pass messages on how to prevent malaria in their respective congregations," said Ignace Singirankabo, the national coordinator of Rwanda Faith Based Organisation Network against HIV and AIDS.
Steven C. Phillip, the Medical Director of Global Issues and Projects at ExxonMobil, reaffirmed the importance of religion in the fight against the pandemics saying: "Community lacks knowledge on how to prevent malaria, faith based organisations are trusted channels in the UN Secretary General's plan to fight Malaria,"
Rwanda has achieved remarkable progress in the fight against Malaria from 16% residents adopting preventive measures in 2005, rising to 60% in 2007, while the recent door to door residual spraying covered 97% households in the country.
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