AFRICA - The commitment of the African Church: Working for the physical well-being of man is an integral part of the mandate of the Gospel

Friday, 20 April 2018 healthcare   development   sustainable development   poverty   diseases   mission   evangelization  

Kara (Agenzia Fides) - Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the areas of the earth most exposed to all kinds of disasters: wars, epidemics, famines, etc. The precarious health system of this part of the continent is very often not able to cope with repeated epidemics, high rates of maternal mortality and the growth of chronic diseases. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa remains essentially the most affected area in the world by malaria.
According to WHO report of 29 November 2017, it accounts for 90% of malaria cases and related deaths worldwide.
"On April 16, at the opening of the Pan-African Conference on malaria in progress in Dakar until today April 20, it emerged that, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the fight against malaria is more complex and difficult than other parts of the world since almost a quarter of the bank reserves of blood are contaminated with parasites that cause the disease", said Fr. Donald Zagore, of the African Missions Society to Agenzia Fides. "In fact - continues the priest - out of a total of 22,508 blood donors, almost 23.46℅ is a vector of parasites that cause the pandemic to arise. With such a record, the fight against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa is far from over".
Furthermore, insists Fr. Zagore "because of the many armed conflicts many families in this relatively poor area of Africa need not only financial aid. In fact, it is urgent that social security and welfare tools such as the 'Assurance Maladie Universelle (AMU)' or the 'Couverture Sanitaire Universelle (CSU)' become an efficient and safe reality. These two tools remain a fundamental factor for sustainable development and are essentially aimed at alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable and defenseless. The goal is for every individual in sub-Saharan Africa to be in good health and thus contribute according to the possibilities for development and self-realization".
"This is a very demanding challenge - explains Father Donald - especially for important issues such as the fight against malaria and fundamental programs such as AMU or CSU. We must never forget that working for the physical well-being of man is an integral part of the mandate of the Gospel received from our Lord Jesus as we read in Matthew (10, 7-8): As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons..." (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 20/4/2018)


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