INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A RESEARCH SEMINAR RELIGION LAW AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The University of Malawi intends to host a seminar on the intersection of religion, law and public health in Africa. The aim of the seminar is to examine religious, cultural and legal philosophies that influence health-seeking behaviours and their impact on public health. Specifically, the seminar seeks to identify and analyse the social determinants of health as well as examine the ways in which public policy might benefit from partnerships between legal professionals, faith-based organisations and healthcare providers. We invite scholars and researchers of all experience levels to attend and contribute to this research seminar.

Aims and rationale of the seminar

Research shows that there is a strong connection between religion, law and public health. Religious groups laid the groundwork for what would later develop into modern hospitals and medical practices as early as the middle ages. In the 19th century, medical missionaries were employed in Africa as a tool for evangelisation and the promotion of scientific knowledge. Moreover, the Church and faith-based organisations play critical roles in health services in Africa. The law regulates human affairs in society, including issues of religion and public health. In more recent years, human rights law has dominated the discussion of religion and public health. Nevertheless, the relationship between religion, public health and law is marked by disagreements and controversies. Lately, religion has been pushed out of the realm of public health as a result of secularism; nonetheless, the foundation and premise of health on religion cannot be disputed. The COVID-19 outbreak of the past three years has shed light on the intricate web of connections between religion, public health, and the law. During this pandemic, the law was used as a medium for resolving conflicts and disagreements between religious freedom advocates and the promotion of public health. However, the law has historically had instances of conflict with the expression of religious freedoms and public health practices.

The goal of this seminar is to initiate a conversation on the possibilities for cooperation at the intersection of religion, law and public health/medicine. We want to provide a scholarly assessment of the role/influence of religious belief and practice for efforts in public health. Further, we want to create an awareness of the fact that human beings are rational and that their decision-making regarding health-seeking behaviours is influenced by their religious and cultural beliefs as well as the law and the environment they live in. We hope that the seminar will stimulate discussion about the need to design health systems that take into account the fact that human beings are psychosomatic entities. This is essential if public health is to achieve its ideal of promoting the general good without losing sight of the need to treat each person as an individual.

We, therefore, encourage submissions of papers that take a transdisciplinary approach to the interconnectedness of these broad areas and public health in Africa. The papers should respond to the following thematic areas:

  • African Traditional Religions and public health

  • Religion and health care in pluralist societies

  • Marginality and healthcare disparities

  • Faith and ethics in health care

  • Religious freedom and public health

  • Faith healing and rituals versus public health

  • Law, mental health/illness and religion

  • Legal and policy framework for religion and public health

  • Religious freedom and the rule of law

  • Divergence of law and faith

  • Indigenous knowledge systems, customary law and public health

  • Religion, environment and public health

Submission Procedure

Scholars and researchers are invited to submit a 300-word abstract. Authors should also submit a title page indicating the title of the proposed paper, author(s), affiliation and corresponding author’s email address. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified and sent paper guidelines. All submitted abstracts will be double-blind peer-reviewed.

Please send your abstracts (word format only) through email to religionhealthlaw@unima.ac.mw copied to Dr Dorothy Tembo at dtembo@unima.ac.mw

Timeline

Deadline for the submission of abstracts is 31 January 2023

Notification of abstract decision by 10 February 2023

Paper submission by 26 May 2023

Seminar will take place on 27 June 2023

Seminar Organisers

Dr Dorothy Tembo, Senior Lecturer, Theology and Religious Studies Department, University of Malawi

Prof. Alister Munthali, Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi

Prof. Happy Kayuni, Acting Executive Dean, School of Law, Economics and Governance, University of Malawi

Prof. Sosten Chiotha, Regional Director, Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Southern and Eastern Africa

Prof. Adamson Muula, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Dr Miriam Kalanda-Joshua, Associate Professor, Geography, Earth Sciences and Environment, University of Malawi

Dr Dalitso Kafumbata, Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences Department, University of Malawi

Dr Bernadette Malunga, Senior Lecturer, Foundational Law Department, University of Malawi

Dr Kondwani Munthali, Senior Lecturer, Computer Science Department, University of Malawi

Dr Jesman Chintsanya, Senior Lecturer, Sociology and Population Studies Department, University of Malawi

Dr Edister Jamu, Senior Lecturer, Psychology and Medical Humanities Department, University of Malawi

Dr Victor Chikaipa, Senior Lecturer, Language, Linguistics and Classical Studies Department, University of Malawi

Dr Rachel Chimbwete-Phiri, Senior Lecturer, Media and Communication Studies Department, University of Malawi

Dr Evance Mwathunga, Senior Lecturer, Geography, Earth Sciences and Environment, University of Malawi

Dr Foster Gondwe, Lecturer, Education Foundations Department, University of Malawi

Dr Alex Zumazuma, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Fr. Dr Boniface Tamani, Lecturer, Philosophy Department, University of Malawi

Dr Timwa Lipenga, Lecturer, Language, Linguistics and Classical Studies, Department, University of Malawi

Dr Gowokani Chijere-Chirwa, Economics Department, University of Malawi

Mr Chikosa Banda, Senior Lecturer, Department of Foundational Law, University of Malawi

Ms Maryking Mwinuka, Lecturer, Geography, Earth Sciences and Environment, University of Malawi

Mrs Tilinao Lamba, Lecturer, Psychology and Medical Humanities Department, University of Malawi

Mr Laston Manja, Lecturer, Economics Department, University of Malawi

Dr Andrew Jamali, National Planning Commission