DRC Cardinal Appointed Head of COVID-19 Fund, Bishops Say “a social service to save lives”

Speaking on behalf of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), the Secretary General of CENCO, Fr. Donatien Nshole has been quoted as telling 7sur7.cd in an interview April 23, “It is an additional voluntary service whose role is to mobilize the means to save lives and get us out of this crisis.”

The Congolese Cleric added, “It is a one-time service that stops at the end of the pandemic. It's quite normal that the Church intervenes to help the people.” 

Cardinal Ambongo will be heading a 12-person FNSCC team tasked with the responsibility to solicit finances that will facilitate the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the Central African nation.

Created on April 6 by President Tshisekedi, FNSCC exists to put together resources that will support various initiatives including the support for medical personnel and services in hospitals.

FNSCC also aims to support enterprises and other structures engaged in economic activity that would be particularly affected by the economic, financial and social consequences of the spread of COVID-19 and the measures taken to limit its spread.

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The Solidarity Fund has also been set up to finance essential supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs) for the population and health workers who are on the front line throughout the country.

The Fund will also assist the COVID-19 Multisector Response Committee to enable it monitor and detect the disease and to strengthen laboratory capacity through training and the provision of appropriate equipment.

FNSCC will operate during the entire period of the state of health emergency that was declared by President Tshisekedi on March 24. The State, public or private companies and donors will contribute to the Fund.

The April 22 appointment came days after President Tshisekedi reached out to religious leaders  to seek coordinated efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, Cardinal Ambongo who headed the delegation of religious leaders described the coming together as essential combating COVID-19, which he described as a “common and invisible enemy.”

The 60-year-old Cardinal who chairs the Platform of Religious Denominations in DRC also expressed the desire of religious leaders to be actively involved in the fight against COVID-19 by raising awareness to their faithful through various channels and communication media.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.