Measles deaths: Mutharika blames churches

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http://www.africanews.com/site/Measles_deaths_Mutharika_blames_churches/list_messages/33524

Posted on Friday 16 July 2010 - 13:00

Measles deaths: Mutharika blames churches


Mtheto Lungu
Image of Mtheto Lungu

Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika, has accused some faith groups for causing deaths of its faithful. A measles outbreak has killed 82 people and attacked about 17,496 between January and June 20 this year.
mutharika
Some churches in the country bar their followers from assessing medication.

Mutharika asked the churches, including the Seventh Day Adventist Church which has seen a number of its followers die, to stop their negative religious doctrine.

"Do not allow children to die because of failure to vaccinate them. You are breaking the law. Let us be rational when we practice our religious beliefs. There is nowhere in the Bible where seeking medication is prohibited," he said.

"Do not kill children in the name of religion. Parents should respect childrens rights. Children must not suffer because of parents," he added.

Advisor to the state president on religious affairs, Reverend Billy Gama, two months ago said government would consider holding sensitisation workshops for religious sects who believe medication is not welcome when sick.

Some religious leaders and believers have since been arrested and successfully charged for refusing their families from getting medication and vaccination from hospitals.