Tanzania clergy dying 'with Covid symptoms' amid govt testing ban

The General Secretary of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Father Charles Kitima, has on Wednesday announced that more than 25 priests, 60 nuns and two elders of the laity died within two months of various causes including respiratory issues.

Father Kitima made the remarks while addressing the media on various issues, especially the Covid-19 epidemic, and urged church members to continue taking precautions against the disease in accordance with Health ministry guidelines.

In a statement, Mr Kitima said the deaths occurred between mid-December and February in different parts of the country.

"Priests are dying and sisters are dying but this number within two months has shocked us especially considering the government has strengthened health systems," he said.

“It is upon every one of us to make sure that we take all the required precautions and protect ourselves and others, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions,” he told a press conference in Dar es Salaam.

“People are not tested. That’s a big challenge. The church has about 500 health centres across the country but we are not allowed to test and we don’t have the equipment to do so,” he added.

He disclosed further that TEC president, Gervas Nyaisonga, had already distributed guidelines to Catholic bishops of various dioceses on measures to protect themselves against Covid-19 while providing services.

Although President John Magufuli had declared Tanzania Covid-19 free last June, a recent spate of deaths from “respiratory blockage” in the populace, including top political and government officials — vice-president of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar Seif Sharif Hamad and the president’s chief secretary John Kijazi — has prompted authorities to concede the existence of Covid-19.

The Health ministry has since issued statements warning the public to take precautions against all infectious diseases, and wash hands and wear masks when necessary.

And as the world scrambles to get vaccines against Covid-19, the country said they are not against the vaccines per se, but wary of their long-term effects.