LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe Interfaith Dialogue Association (Lida), which operates under the Inter Religious Dialogue/Conflict Management Project being implemented by faith based Centre for Social Concern (CFSC), says is considering carrying out comprehensive sensitization campaigns about the Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease pandemic in rural areas.
Lida feels little is being done to sensitize rural people some of whom it says still cling to false myths and theories that thwart efforts in fighting Covid-19.
Although Lida’s core function is essentially to increase tolerance for peaceful coexistence between and among ethno-religious and political groups, the association says has a significant role to play in fighting Covid-19 owing to the influence and respect its members have especially in rural areas for being faith leaders and other key stakeholders.
Members of the association met in Lilongwe Thursday to brainstorm on how they would conduct the sensitizations, fearing that the false myths and theories among “illiterate” rural people could lead to more covid cases and deaths.
CFSC Inter Religious Dialogue Program Officer Tobias Jere concurred with the Lida members, adding that fighting the Covid-19 pandemic is indeed the role of everyone.
He urged the Lida members to quickly draw a plan which he said would be a basis for acquiring resources in order to roll out their sensitizations.
Among many other false myths and theories, there is a tendency of disregarding Covid-19 preventive measures on the basis that the disease is meant for rich people in cities and towns or that it does not exist at all.
There are also growing acts of attacking health workers whenever they declare a sickness as Covid-19 or pronounce a death as a result of Covid-19.
