UNICEF intensifies engangement with the Apostolic sect

Published: July 28, 2010

Marange(ZimEye)-The United Nations Children’s Education Fund UNICEF has embarked on a massive persuasive drive in Marange targeting members of the Apostolic sect after it has emerged that 70% of area’s children were left out the National immunization program which was done in April .

UNICEF Chief of communications Micaela de Sousa said in an interview that her team was in the area engaging with the Marange community in best ways of getting them appreciate the essence of immunising their children.

“As UNICEF we respect cultural values of every society and currently in Manicaland we have started some serious partnerships
not to deal with immunization alone but with other areas like promoting and empowering the girl child so that she attains
education,. We continue to develop these relations to ensure that the best interests of the children is respected and this can only be
attained through continued engagement.

“This method is working ,of course we take into account the reservation based on their beliefs but at the same time our
responsibility is to engage in dialogue ,sensitise and mobilize these groups to ensure that there is real critical mass of them
including their leadership”, she said.

The United Nations Children’s Education Fund UNICEF which was spearheading the measles campaign said although they managed reach the desired target of five million children country wide, the Marange community recorded the lowest number of children who were immunized.

The Marange area is dominated with members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic church who are resistant to immunization because of their beliefs.

According to UNICEF in Marange only 30% of the children were immunized. Most of kids who managed to be immunized came on their own at the treatment camps as their mothers were afraid of being seen by other church members visiting the immunization camps.

During the national immunization program in April reports from Manicaland said some members of the apostolic sect resorted to staying in mountains while avoiding the medical program.

In Masvingo recently three members of the Johanne Marange apostolic sect went on the run after severely beating a police officer with knobkerries while resisting attempts to have their children immunised.

After beating the police officer and forcing a health official to flee for dear life, they escaped and are believed to have crossed the
border into South Africa.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai early this year held meetings with members of the sect as he tried to convince them to have their
children immunised.

The government in May this year embarked on the immunisation programme to reduce the child mortality rate in the country.

Children aged between 0-5 years were being immunised against child killer diseases among them measles and polio.(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)

4 Comments on "UNICEF intensifies engangement with the Apostolic sect"

Leon on Thu, 29th Jul 2010 6:06 pm

The Marange church is becoming a political issue. Last week Mugabe was at the church, according to the media, Tswangirai and other party members were stopped by the CIOs from having a meeting at the church. And worse it originates from the diamonds fields(mines), Marange. Abanye sebefuna ukungena iMarange ngenxeba njengempethu.

choyachatsva on Fri, 30th Jul 2010 7:31 am

tsvaga chikonzero chakasimba kuti sei chematama akarmbidzwa,homework for you

Lameck Malumba Nkomo on Thu, 12th Aug 2010 8:44 am

TO THE ONE WHO POSTED THIS POST!!!!!!!
Please remove these pictures it is not the “JOHN MARANGE APOSTOLIC” picture. Find the right ones at John Marange Home page.
Thank you!!!!

Lameck Malumba Nkomo on Thu, 12th Aug 2010 8:48 am

TO THE ONE WHO POSTED THIS POST!!!!!!!
Please remove these pictures you inserted here. There are not the ones for “JOHN MARANGE APOSTOLIC CHURCH” try to find the right ones at “MARANGE HOME Page”
Thank you.

UNICEF intensifies engangement with the Apostolic sect

Related Posts:

ZimEye Latest