Being Vaccinated against COVID-19 Part of “duty to care”: Jesuit Leaders in Africa

“It is important that as the vaccines are available, we all go for the vaccination as a duty to care,” the Nigerian-born President of JCAM says.

On his part, the Director of the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), Fr. Ishmael Matambura, said, after being vaccinated, that he felt “okay and there is nothing to worry about.” 

“We need to promote public health and getting vaccinated is one of the ways to do that. It is the duty of every responsible citizen to get vaccinated in order to be protected as well as protect others,” the AJAN Director has been quoted as saying in the March 31 report.

Fr. Matambura further calls on “all responsible citizens not to give in false rumors and messages about the vaccine.” 

JCAM’s Justice and Ecology Office Global Policy and Advocacy Officer, Fernando Saldivar is quoted offering similar encouragement.

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“We have a responsibility to do everything we can to stop the pandemic and vaccination is probably the major way to stop the virus,” the Nairobi-based Jesuit says, adding, “I encourage everyone to go to the nearest vaccination facility and get vaccinated.” 

In the March 31 report, Fr. Chilufya who is also the Director of the Jesuits Justice Ecology Network Africa (JENA) says that there is need for Religious men and women “to assure populations that vaccines are safe.”

“Men and women of influence like Clergy men and women would be crucial in playing that role,” the Zambian-born Jesuit says, adding that Religious men and women “are key to stand out as ambassadors for the right message.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.