COVID-19: ADAMAWA CAN CALLS FOR VIGILANCE AND COMPLIANCE TO GOVT DIRECTIVES
"This will definitely affects our faith base practices, yet while
keeping in mind the sacred responsibilities of our faith and practices, we
immediately call on you dear brethren to cooperate maximally with the relevant
Government agencies in their efforts and measures towards the welfare of the
citizenry in the face of this killer disease”.
The
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Adamawa
state chapter under the Chairmanship of Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza,
Catholic Bishop of Yola has called upon its members in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic to maintain a high level of vigilance and compliance in order to
remain safe and alive.
The
CAN Chairman made this known in a statement circulated across the state
following the increasing spread of the virus that has so far, claimed one life
with many suspected to have contracted the virus.
In
the statement, Most Rev. Mamza noted that, “As a Church therefore, we shall
comply fully with the directives of the state authorities in curbing the spread
of the Virus. This will definitely affects our faith base practices, yet while
keeping in mind the sacred responsibilities of our faith and practices, we
immediately call on you dear brethren to cooperate maximally with the relevant
Government agencies in their efforts and measures towards the welfare of the
citizenry in the face of this killer disease”.
Below is the statement
as issued by the Adamawa CAN Chapter.
MESSAGE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS IN ADAMAWA
STATE BY CAN CHAIRMAN, MOST REV. DR. STEPHEN DAMI MAMZA
Dear Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
24th March, 2020
AT THE WAKE OF COVID
– 19 PANDEMIC: A CALL FOR VIGILANCE AND COMPLIANCE
The pace at which
the Corona Virus is spreading calls for collaboration and unity of purpose in
the struggles for curtailing the further spread and the far-reaching damages of
the disease. As a Church therefore, we shall comply fully with the directives
of the state authorities in curbing the spread of the Virus. This will
definitely affects our faith base practices, yet while keeping in mind the
sacred responsibilities of our faith and practices, we immediately call on you
dear brethren to cooperate maximally with the relevant Government agencies in
their efforts and measures towards the welfare of the citizenry in the face of
this killer disease.
Therefore, we urge
all Christians and all people of goodwill to duly observe the following
adjustments we have made regarding our worship and activities:
We ask proprietors
of all Christian Schools to comply with the government directives by closing
all Christian schools on or before Friday 27th March 2020.
We encourage smaller
units of congregational assemblies of 50 people only. We recommend the
suspension of Sunday Services and Masses until further notice. The Faithful are
encouraged to continue with private devotions in their respective homes.
Crusades, conventions, revivals, vigils are hereby suspended until further
notice.
We urge Christians
to suspend the sign of peace, which involves hand-shaking and hugging in some
Churches and outside churches.
We encourage the recommended social distance of
one meter or three feet.
Reception of Holy
Communion should be on the palms and done in such a way as to prevent touching
of the recipient.
Pastoral care to be
administered with utmost precautions (use hand sanitizer before and after, and
wash hands thoroughly with soap and water often).
Burials should be
restricted to only the close family members of the deceased.
Weddings and social
celebrations should be suspended until the situation comes under control.
Frequently wash your
hands with soap and running water or use hand sanitizers to disinfect them.
Avoid touching your
eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Christian
Hospitals/Clinics, Conference/social Centres and Pastoral homes to put in place
Emergency Response Measures (Such as a Liaison Committee, Personal protective
equipment including hand sanitizers, face masks, hand washing fonts with liquid
soap dispensers, temperature monitors, etc). Thus, there should be hand
Sanitizers at every Church entrance.
Practice respiratory
hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue
when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose the used tissue immediately.
If you have fever,
cough and difficulty in breathing, please seek medical care immediately.
We encourage people
to please stay at home and go out only when necessary. Prevention is better
than cure!
We appeal to all our
pastors and Church leaders to ensure that adequate care is taken and lines of
communications are open to ensure that the poor and the vulnerable who live
alone are not abandoned at this time and beyond. Let us stand together;
hand-in-hand. In keeping with His word (Jn. 14:1), God will see us through all
these.
With you in
communion of prayers, I remain,
Most Rev. Dr.
Stephen Dami Mamza
Catholic Bishop of
Yola
CAN Chairman Adamawa
State
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