Bougainville clergy receive COVID-19 awareness
A high-level COVID-19 awareness forum, convened by the PNG Council of Churches (PNGCC) and Bougainville Church Council Association in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, has encouraged church leaders to support the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Headed by General Secretary of the PNG Council of Churches, Reverend Roger Joseph and Cardinal Sir John Ribat, the forum “I am my Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper”, provided a safe space for church leaders to hear about the current status of COVID in Bougainville, the vaccination program and how the COVID-19 response fits within a theological framework.
Over 130 clergy representing Bougainville Catholic, United, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal Churches attended, together with health experts from the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Health.
ABG Minister for Community Development and Member for Taonita-Teop Constituency Hon. Thompson Gitovea officially launched the forum on Tuesday 18 January at the Hahela Catholic Diocese Youth Hall Center.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in two periods of shut down for us in Bouginville and has resulted in a lot of fear, because of the death toll it has caused worldwide and at home…It is common knowledge that generally vaccination rates for other vaccines have been affected because of the fear of the the COVID-19 vaccine. I am anticipating that accurate information will be disseminated so as to enable accurate transmitting of information to our church congerations regarding the vaccine,” Minister Gitovea said.
Leaders from the four main churches included Bishop Dariusz Kaluza of the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville, Bishop Abraham Toroi of the United Church of Bougainville, Pastor Albert Magoi President of the BCCA and member of the Pentecostal Church and the Seventh Day Adventist President of Bougainville Mission Pastor Julius Divu. National Leaders also attended including United Church a/g Moderator Hitolo Arua and Pastor Kewai Kero of the Evangelical Alliance.
During the workshop medical frontliners, Health Extension Officer Launo Mulandato and Dr. Mathias Tovilu from the Bougainville Department of Health, provided an update on the COVID-19 situation in Bougainville and answered questions from the clergy regarding the vaccine and coronavirus.
Following the forum, the Bougainville Church Leaders were equipped with additional resouces and information to assist them have informed discussions with their congregation and the broader Bougainville Christian community about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
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