St Michael’s Parish Receives PPEs to Support COVID-19 Prevention

By Madalitso Chiona*

On Sunday, St Michael’s Parish, in Chitipa, under the Diocese of Karonga received assorted personal protective equipment (PPEs) from well-wishers from Germany to support efforts to prevent COVID-19 pandemic in places of worship.

Father Mwenegamba (R) handing over some of the items to Catechetical Methodology Advisor, Paul Mwandira

The donation which included 10 hand washing buckets, tablets of soap and 50 face masks has come from Elisabeth Maasjost and friends through Reverend Father Steven Bulambo of St. Anne’s Parish.

In his remarks, Reverend Father Kondwani Mwenegamba of St Michael’s Parish thanked Elisabeth Maasjost and her friends for the support rendered to the parish saying it will help a lot in the fight against the pandemic as many Christians are unable to secure these PPEs on their own.

“If you walk around the Parish you can see some people are not putting on face masks and in most gathering places, people are not washing hands as it is supposed to be, not because they do not care about contracting the virus but due to lack of PPEs.” Said Father Mwenegamba.

Speaking after handing over the items to the Catechetical Methodology Advisor, Paul Mwandira and COVID-19 Prevention Committee for the Parish, Father Mwenegamba pleaded for proper use and distribution of the same and that the main beneficiaries of the items should be prayer houses that are under the Parish.

Father Mwenegamba further appealed to all people from all walks to borrow a leaf from Maasjost in trying to combat the pandemic.

Speaking on behalf of the COVID-19 Committee and St Michael’s Parish members, Catechetical Methodology Advisor Paul Mwandira also commended Maasjost for support rendered to the Parish.

“Since St Michael’s is one of the major Parishes in the Diocese, 10 buckets, soaps and 50 face masks are not enough for two zones with 20 sub stations hence these buckets and soaps will be distributed first to prayer houses that do not have any,” said Mwandira.

According to Chitipa District COVID-19 Status report released on the 17^th of August, the District has so far recorded 52 positive cases of COVID-19 out of which 48 have recovered, three have died and there is only one active case.

*The Author is Parish Communication Agent for St Michael’s Parish