13/05/2026
All Saints Congregation Embraces Medical Oxygen Awareness Initiative.
On 10th May 2026, the CSO Coalition for Medical Oxygen Access in Zambia brought a life-saving message to the pews of All Saints United Church of Zambia congregation in Chainda, Lusaka. The health talk, held as part of the broader East Africa Program on Oxygen Access (EAPOA) community engagement initiative, aimed to reframe how ordinary Zambians understand and relate to medical oxygen.
The session was held during a church service with a diverse audience of women, men, and youth who engaged also actively interacted with Coalition after the service. For many, it was a revelation learning for the first time that oxygen is not a sign of impending death, but a prescribed, life-saving medicine. This shift in understanding is precisely what the Coalition is working to achieve.
Yet the event also laid bare the depth of fear and mistrust that still surrounds oxygen use in communities. Several participants admitted feeling alarmed whenever a loved one is placed on oxygen, a sentiment rooted in historical associations with critical illness and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. One attendee, visibly distressed, shared the painful experience during hospitalisation a sobering reminder that behind every statistic is a human story demanding compassion and careful engagement.
Community members also expressed curiosity about the Coalition itself, asking who they are and what they do a sign of genuine interest that underscores the need for clearer, consistent messaging.
The event confirmed that churches remain powerful platforms for health education in Zambia. Sustained, empathetic, and community-rooted engagement is the path forward.