Monze, 04 January, 2021 / 3:57 PM
The Bishop of Zambia’s Monze Diocese who has been undergoing care after he tested positive for COVID-19 is in a stable condition at a Catholic Hospital in his Diocese, the Bishop has confirmed in a social media post.
“I have personally decided to write you about my health condition since last Saturday. Before that I had what I thought was an ordinary flu which on Saturday was confirmed COVID-19 case at Monze Mission hospital,” Bishop Moses Hamungole says in his Monday, January 4 Facebook post.
He further discloses making reference to the health workers who attended to him on January 2, “They immediately started the treatment and I was later transferred to Levy Mwanawasa hospital where they have better facilities for COVID-19 patients.”
“From Monze I was in a stable condition. I have remained in the stable condition. Yesterday evening they resumed the treatment and I have been told my oxygen levels were fine,” the 53-year-old Zambian Bishop further says in his January 4 Facebook post
He assures the people of God in the Southern African nation about his health situation, expressing his appreciation for the care he is receiving.
“I am well taken care of here and there is no reason to worry about. I'm calm and confident to pull through this COVID-19 attack,” Bishop Hamungole says, and adds, “Fr. Oliver has delivered all the medication which the hospital needs to complete list for my treatment.”
The Local Ordinary of Monze Diocese who doubles as the Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) urges the general public to take COVID-19 preventive protocols seriously in order to help stop the spread of the pandemic.
“I want you to take COVID-19 pandemic real and to urge you to follow all health regulations,” the Prelate who was ordained a Bishop in May 2014 after years of service at the Rome-based Vatican Radio urges in his Facebook post.
He goes on to express his appreciation to the people of God in Zambia for journeying with him in prayer saying, “I wish to thank you for your prayers. Let us remain United in prayer!”
Bishop Hamungole is the first Catholic Bishop known to have contracted the virus in his country where 21,993 cases have been reported, including 398 deaths and 19,229 recoveries.
In Africa, the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Phillip Cardinal Ouédraogo, tested positive for the virus in April 2020 and later recovered. Earlier, in March 2020, the Vicar Apostolic of Ethiopia’s Gambella Vicariate, Bishop Angelo Moreschi, succumbed to the virus.
In August, the Bishop of Nigeria’s Yola Diocese also tested positive for COVID-19 and later recovered.
The Archbishop of Kenya’s Nyeri Archdiocese who recovered from the disease expressed appreciation to the people of God in the East Africa country, thanking them for journeying with him in prayers as he battled with COVID-19.
The Best Catholic News - straight to your inbox
Sign up for our free ACI Africa newsletter.
Our mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA