COVID-19 and the View from Africa

Autor: Tim Davies, Kenneth Matengu, Judith E. Hall
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Religions, Vol 14, Iss 5, p 589 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2077-1444
DOI: 10.3390/rel14050589
Popis: In Africa, refusal of COVID-19 and other vaccines is widespread for different reasons, including disbelief in the existence of the virus itself and faith in traditional remedies. In sub-Saharan countries, refusal is often made worse by opposition to vaccines by the religious establishments. This is a pressing problem, as Africa has the highest vaccine-avoidable mortality rate for children under the age of five in the world. Dialogue between those wishing to promote vaccines and those who resist them is essential if the situation is to be improved. This article argues that Western and other aid agencies seeking to promote vaccination programs need to develop a dialogue with resisters, and in this process to embrace and commend the ancient African philosophical tradition of Ubuntu, incorporating it into these programs as a way to overcome such entrenched resistance. The paper concludes with concrete recommendations for how to accomplish this goal.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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