News / National
'Prophets mislead people living with HIV/Aids'
28 Mar 2014 at 17:08hrs | Views
The government has been urged to be alert and act swiftly following revelations by health institutions that many people living with HIV and Aids were now defaulting therapy claiming to have been healed in emerging pentecostal churches.
While many apostolic sects have adopted modern medication it has come to light that a new tide has hit the country with emerging prophetic sects reportedly encouraging their members to seek divine intervention instead of medication.
Speaking on the sidelines of National Aids Council's (Nac) first quarter of HIV and Aids review meeting for provincial medical directors, central hospitals and city health departments held in Kadoma on Tuesday, Nac monitoring and evaluation director Amon Mpofu said such a situation should be curtailed before it gets out of hand.
"Zimbabwe has made major strides in dealing with HIV and Aids; the number of children orphaned by the disease as well as the number of new infections is gradually declining.
"In general, survival chances have improved which is an equal indicator of success. However, the issue of emerging churches cannot be over-emphasised as a new religious wave is distorting medical procedures," he said.
Mpofu said that considering the number of pentecostal churches was increasing, the country's health matters may be faced with another intense religious challenge.
He said there was a need for church leaders to understand that HIV and Aids was a matter of blood not prophecy.
"Religious issues may be difficult to control considering almost every one belongs to one or the other. What we now need is a national workshop with all church leaders because there are many misconceptions around policies that result in complications.
"People should understand that defaulting therapy is equal to setting one's life sentence, once you stop it you will die and there is evidence to that. There are many experiences and testimonies that can be shared to change people's mindsets," he said.
Harare Central Hospital senior house officer Lintwa Nyathi told delegates at the meeting that, at the hospital, at least 211 out of 1 000 adolescents were reported to have defaulted on therapy as at the end of 2013, adding this was a very sensitive issue.
"Almost all of them were claiming to have been healed in several prophetic institutions yet all of them still tested positive and were developing complications.
"However, others who defaulted were boarding school adolescents embarrassed to be seen taking drugs in the presence of other students," he said.
Other representatives from various provinces echoed the same sentiments saying this was a national emergency issue.
While many apostolic sects have adopted modern medication it has come to light that a new tide has hit the country with emerging prophetic sects reportedly encouraging their members to seek divine intervention instead of medication.
Speaking on the sidelines of National Aids Council's (Nac) first quarter of HIV and Aids review meeting for provincial medical directors, central hospitals and city health departments held in Kadoma on Tuesday, Nac monitoring and evaluation director Amon Mpofu said such a situation should be curtailed before it gets out of hand.
"Zimbabwe has made major strides in dealing with HIV and Aids; the number of children orphaned by the disease as well as the number of new infections is gradually declining.
"In general, survival chances have improved which is an equal indicator of success. However, the issue of emerging churches cannot be over-emphasised as a new religious wave is distorting medical procedures," he said.
Mpofu said that considering the number of pentecostal churches was increasing, the country's health matters may be faced with another intense religious challenge.
"Religious issues may be difficult to control considering almost every one belongs to one or the other. What we now need is a national workshop with all church leaders because there are many misconceptions around policies that result in complications.
"People should understand that defaulting therapy is equal to setting one's life sentence, once you stop it you will die and there is evidence to that. There are many experiences and testimonies that can be shared to change people's mindsets," he said.
Harare Central Hospital senior house officer Lintwa Nyathi told delegates at the meeting that, at the hospital, at least 211 out of 1 000 adolescents were reported to have defaulted on therapy as at the end of 2013, adding this was a very sensitive issue.
"Almost all of them were claiming to have been healed in several prophetic institutions yet all of them still tested positive and were developing complications.
"However, others who defaulted were boarding school adolescents embarrassed to be seen taking drugs in the presence of other students," he said.
Other representatives from various provinces echoed the same sentiments saying this was a national emergency issue.
Source - Zim Mail
