Faith-Based Organizations and the Flu

By Jacqueline L. Salmon

The National Council of Churches' Church World Service today is taking part in briefings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the H1N1 flu. It's part of a governmental effort to reach out to faith-based organizations, which could play play a crucial role if the flu outbreak gets more serious because they have deep roots in communities and are an effective way to spread information and prevent panic.

The NCC has posted numerous links to information by various denominations and government organizations on the outbreak, including a brochure by Health and Human Services on the role of "FBCOs," as the government calls them (faith-based and community-based organizations).

It suggests they could maintain community morale and cohesion and provide counseling, as well as play a crucial role in distributing food and water to shut-ins, making sure antiviral medications are distributed fairly and helping care for children shut out of closed schools and day-care centers.

That advice is rather daunting, however: "To minimize child-to-child contact, children should be cared for in separate rooms, allowed to play only in well-ventilated rooms, and encouraged to play outdoors (with supervision)." Clearly, the writers of this brochure have never dealt with children before. Cared for in separate rooms? Tell that to a group of five-year-olds.

By Jacqueline L. Salmon  |  May 4, 2009; 9:34 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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