Does God promise to protect Christians from COVID-19?
Some Christians refuse all vaccines on the basis that they are somehow not natural or that they believe God will protect them from diseases. Some argue that God determines how long we should live so we cannot ‘save’ our lives. But we do things all the time to try and reduce our risk of disease…
Read MoreSome brief Christian considerations on the COVID-19 vaccines
En français After almost a year of socio-political disruption caused by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA virus, some vaccines have received emergency approval for use in the vulnerable and general population. Some countries have received and have begun to vaccinate their people, while others are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the vaccines. Christians and Christian faith communities…
Read MoreA heavenly reason to care for bodies
‘Why be a doctor? Why should I bother to heal and cure bodies if everyone is going to die in the end? Why don’t I become an evangelist instead?’ I was leading a discussion group for medical students when one of them asked these questions. At first, her line of reasoning seemed logical. If the…
Read MoreReflections on a brother’s death
For those of us who have the privilege of serving others in the healthcare professions, we know that amid challenges and discouragements, even pandemics, there are times when patients transcend tribulation in ways that are instructive and touch our souls. I think back to clinic visits over the years with patients living with Trisomy 21,…
Read MoreFAQ: Coronavirus vaccines Frequently Asked Questions
There is an updated version of this article here. Is there any scientific possibility that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will change human DNA? No. Both these vaccines employ molecules called messenger RNA that have been synthesised in laboratories. After immunisation the molecules are designed to enter into cells within the body where they give…
Read MoreCoronavirus vaccines – history, logistics, questions and conspiracies
En français The long-awaited news So, on Wednesday 2 December, the UK became the first nation in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for medical use. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the medicines watchdog, had given it the thumbs up and granted it temporary authorisation. The roll-out could begin. …
Read MoreReflections on a falling wall
En français The 9th of November this year marked the 31st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I can still remember watching in excited incredulity as the TV news showed pictures of jubilant Berliners hacking at the concrete structure with hammers and pick axes, and friends and family members from both sides joyfully…
Read MoreWinner of the 2020 Dr Shane Sam Mathew Memorial ICMDA Medical Missionary Award
En français In recognition of her committed service, the Dr Shane Sam Mathew Memorial ICMDA Medical Missionary Award for 2020 was given to Dr Camy Thomas at the South Asia Regional Online Conference. Dr Camy Thomas, is a graduate of Christian Dental College (CMC) Ludhiana, from the batch of 2007. She is the daughter of…
Read MoreCOVID-19: a dental perspective
En français The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown several challenges at dentists and their patients. At the same time, it has given us the opportunity to rethink and realign our approach to oral health in the context of a new normal. In a webinar recorded for the ICMDA recently, I talked about the impacts of COVID…
Read MoreMembers of a whole
The immediate effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are severe enough and sometimes unexpected. The higher Covid-19 mortality amongst healthcare workers and others from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the UK have not been observed in Africa and South Asia. This has obliged those of us who work in the National Health Service to ask ourselves difficult…
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