From Sunday August 27 Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, who is head of the Anglican Church in the Southern African region, will visit Mozambique for three days to begin distribution of 16,500 mosquito nets, treated with a long-lasting insecticide. This is part of an Anglican Church malaria control programme which has been funded by Standard Chartered Bank and Episcopal Relief and Development - a development organisation of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.
"Southern Africa is one of the poorest regions in the world with billions of people still dying from preventable diseases such as TB and Malaria. Moreover, it is also the area worst affected by the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. Every day that we delay fighting such diseases a million more people will die each year," says the Archbishop.
During the visit, he, together with the Anglican Bishop of Lebombo, Dinis Sengulane, will also meet with the Ministry of Health in Mozambique. This at an invitation from the Mozambican government which is seeking church assistance in the delivery of government health programmes, especially those dealing with HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The Anglican Church in Mozambique has been instrumental in championing programmes that deal with Malaria. It has been involved in the international 'Roll Back Malaria' campaign, and has implemented extensive parish-driven malaria control programmes.
Important components of this programme being implemented by the church include education, awareness training and capacity building. Through this programme the Church employs 15 people, of which 13 are field workers in the more rural southern parts of Mozambique.
"It has been six years since the Millennium Goals were set and Africa is still in crisis. Much work still has to be done before real change filters through to those in need," says Archbishop Ndungane.
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For more information please contact Penny Lorimer, Media Liaison for Archbishop Ndungane
+27 082 894-1522 or visit
www.anglicanchurchsa.org.za
www.hopeafrica.org.za