How We have Experienced COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the Presbyterian Community in Kinshasa
Contributed by Pastor Isaac Kalonji,
CPK Community President and Legal Representative
Received: August 12, 2020
[Pour lire cet article en français, cliquez ici]
Beginning in the month of March, 2020, the Congolese Head of State, His Excellency the President of the Republic Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, took emergency measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). All institutions of the Republic, heads of religious denominations, artists, and all influential persons were encouraged to use all possible methods to sensitize our people to behave responsibly towards the invisible and unknown enemy; a deadly disease for which there is no medicine or vaccine. In the Congo, a poor country with very limited and under-equipped medical facilities, the health care personnel are less well trained and less protected than elsewhere. The only solution that remains is to the change of behavior of our people.
Thus barrier measures such as washing hands at all times, not greeting each other by shaking hands, not kissing, coughing and sneezing only into the elbow, and staying at home and going out only when necessary have been widely promoted. In addition, the city of Kinshasa was cut off from the other provinces of the country and the Congo isolated from the world. The population of the Commune of Gombe [a neighborhood in Kinshasa], considered to be the epicenter of the global COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa, was in turn confined. Schools and churches were closed, the big market and almost all activities were also closed. But during this period the faithful met in small groups in their homes and communicated using social networks as well as the local radio and television channels. After two months the health crisis led to other crises such as the economic, financial and food crisis. The Congo, which is already facing other epidemics and diseases such as Ebola, cholera, measles and malaria, has been suffocated by the COVID-19 restrictions. As a result people preferred to die from COVID-19 instead of dying shamefully from hunger.
Little by little the government has lifted the confinement of the Commune of Gombe, and before the end of August Kinshasa will be open again to the other provinces of the country. Maybe then the churches and schools will be able to open their doors again. And prudence obliges us to wear our masks and to respect the rules of hygiene. This crisis has had harmful consequences here in Kinshasa and in provinces such as Mbuji-Mayi in Kasai Oriental, where the CPK has lost many worshippers who have died for many reasons. For some, they were afraid to go to the doctor because of the risk of being thought of as COVID-19 carriers. For others, they died either because of their advanced age or because of the financial crisis and lack of food. We also want to point out that our pastors and their families have gone through a very difficult period and the social situation is untenable. Because they are without salary, without food, and without any other help.
We are very grateful to the Lord our God who has protected us with His love, grace and mercy during this very difficult time. We believe that He will never abandon us. We thank the PC(USA) and MBF who helped our medical department with masks, hand washing stations and detergents. We thank Jonathan and Janet Cameron, and Bill and Ginnie Reinhold for thinking of our pastors. We are grateful to our brothers and sisters in the Congo Mission Network, Eastern Virginia Presbytery “PEVA” and Whitewater Presbytery who continue to give special attention to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
May God bless the CPK, the PC(USA), and the Congo Mission Network.
For the Presbyterian community of Kinshasa
Rev. KALONJI MUKENDI Isaac
Community President and Legal Representative
