Drug Fight Malawi Alcohol Policy: The need for a broad consultation process in Malawi 11th November, 2008, Nkopola Lodge, Mangochi- Malawi. By Nelson B

Drug Fight Drug Fight MalawiMalawi

Alcohol Policy: The need Alcohol Policy: The need for a broad consultation for a broad consultation

process in Malawiprocess in Malawi

11th November, 2008, Nkopola Lodge, 11th November, 2008, Nkopola Lodge, Mangochi-Malawi.Mangochi-Malawi.

By Nelson B ZakeyuBy Nelson B ZakeyuExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorDrug Fight MalawiDrug Fight Malawi

Email; Email; [email protected]@yahoo.com Cell;09930740 Cell;09930740

Drug FightDrug FightMalawiMalawi

The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

PreamblePreamble

Alcohol is widely consumed in Alcohol is widely consumed in the world and moderate the world and moderate consumption is accepted in consumption is accepted in many countries (World Bank many countries (World Bank 2006).2006).

Alcohol has important cultural Alcohol has important cultural and symbolic meanings in many and symbolic meanings in many societies.societies.


Drug Fight MalawiDrug Fight Malawi

PreamblePreamble

In Malawi, Alcohol consumption is In Malawi, Alcohol consumption is on the increase and is high among on the increase and is high among youths, a situation which is very youths, a situation which is very alarming considering its negative alarming considering its negative impact impact



Preamble Preamble

Pilot studies conducted so far in some Pilot studies conducted so far in some areas of Malawi have linked alcohol use to areas of Malawi have linked alcohol use to several problems such as increase in HIV several problems such as increase in HIV transmission ( Center for Social transmission ( Center for Social Research of the University of Malawi and Research of the University of Malawi and IMCDC, 2004), domestic and gender based IMCDC, 2004), domestic and gender based violence (Girl Guide Association of Malawi, violence (Girl Guide Association of Malawi, January, 2008)January, 2008)



Preamble Preamble

It is evident (despite lack of country It is evident (despite lack of country wide evidence based information) wide evidence based information) that the harm of use of alcohol is that the harm of use of alcohol is negatively contributing to the health negatively contributing to the health and social sufferings of Malawiansand social sufferings of Malawians



Preamble Preamble

Increased consumption of alcohol in Increased consumption of alcohol in Malawi is silently destroying lives of Malawi is silently destroying lives of people.people.

Some people, particularly men are Some people, particularly men are found totally drug at as early as 6.00 found totally drug at as early as 6.00 hrs daily. hrs daily.



PreamblePreamble

Media has on a number of occasion Media has on a number of occasion reported deaths of people due to reported deaths of people due to alcohol consumption particularly alcohol consumption particularly taken with empty stomach.taken with empty stomach.



Preamble Preamble

Steps therefore have to be taken to Steps therefore have to be taken to address the problem of harmful use address the problem of harmful use of alcohol for National Development.of alcohol for National Development.

Formulation of National Alcohol Formulation of National Alcohol Policy is one of the first important Policy is one of the first important steps to address the problem.steps to address the problem.



he

PreamblePreamble

CSOs realize that the Government CSOs realize that the Government has the responsibility of formulating has the responsibility of formulating PoliciesPolicies

The development of the policy has to The development of the policy has to be done in collaboration with CS be done in collaboration with CS organizations.organizations.


Goal for the Alcohol PolicyGoal for the Alcohol PolicyThe aim for the policy is the creation of The aim for the policy is the creation of

favorable conditions for the favorable conditions for the prevention of the harm from alcohol prevention of the harm from alcohol consumption in Malawi.consumption in Malawi.



Purpose of the PolicyPurpose of the Policy To regulate alcohol activities in To regulate alcohol activities in

Malawi in order to prevent people Malawi in order to prevent people from harm from alcohol consumption.from harm from alcohol consumption.



Some of the possible areas of Some of the possible areas of focus in the Policyfocus in the Policy

Minimum legal age to buy and take Minimum legal age to buy and take alcoholalcohol

Restrictions on hours/days of sale of Restrictions on hours/days of sale of alcohol, not only in cities but through alcohol, not only in cities but through out the countryout the country

Retail sales of alcoholRetail sales of alcohol Taxes on Alcohol Taxes on Alcohol



Some of the possible areas of Some of the possible areas of focus in the Policyfocus in the Policy

Lowered limits for blood alcohol concentrationLowered limits for blood alcohol concentration Administrative suspension of licenses for driving Administrative suspension of licenses for driving

under influence of alcohol and reinforce the under influence of alcohol and reinforce the penalties.penalties.

Graduated licensing for novice drivers (i.e., Graduated licensing for novice drivers (i.e., issuing licenses with limitations on driving issuing licenses with limitations on driving privileges such as a zero limit for blood alcohol privileges such as a zero limit for blood alcohol concentrations to those seeking for license.concentrations to those seeking for license.

The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!


Some of the Possible areas Some of the Possible areas of focusof focus

Note has to be taken that while Note has to be taken that while adhering to international standards, adhering to international standards, alcohol policy ought to be tailored alcohol policy ought to be tailored according to the needs of Malawians.according to the needs of Malawians.

Advocacy Advocacy Considering that programs on Considering that programs on

prevention of harmful use of alcohol prevention of harmful use of alcohol are not yet famous in Malawi, and are not yet famous in Malawi, and also that the development of also that the development of National Policy require broad National Policy require broad participation, Drug Fight Malawi participation, Drug Fight Malawi together with its stakeholders is together with its stakeholders is continuously in the process of continuously in the process of gathering, gathering,



AdvocacyAdvocacy

organizing and analyzing information organizing and analyzing information to be communicated through various to be communicated through various channels. channels.



Advocacy Advocacy

Information will be communicated Information will be communicated through various channels with a view through various channels with a view not only to raising resources for not only to raising resources for prevention activities on use of alcohol prevention activities on use of alcohol but also gaining political and social but also gaining political and social leadership acceptance and commitment leadership acceptance and commitment for a development program, thereby for a development program, thereby preparing the society for its acceptancepreparing the society for its acceptance



What is the aim for What is the aim for advocacy?advocacy?

The goal is to make prevention of The goal is to make prevention of use of alcohol in Malawi one of the use of alcohol in Malawi one of the national priority issues. national priority issues.



Initiative taken by Drug Initiative taken by Drug Fight MalawiFight Malawi

Intr. to Drug Fight MalawiIntr. to Drug Fight Malawi A legally local registered NGOA legally local registered NGO Member of CONGOMAMember of CONGOMA Registered with NGO-Board of MalawiRegistered with NGO-Board of Malawi Co-opted member of the IMCDCCo-opted member of the IMCDC



Initiative taken by Drug Initiative taken by Drug Fight Malawi Fight Malawi

Embarked on the consultation Embarked on the consultation meetings related to alcohol meetings related to alcohol activities with CSOs, Govt depts. activities with CSOs, Govt depts.

1.1. It was from these consultation It was from these consultation meetings where a need for National meetings where a need for National Alcohol Policy Advocacy Conference Alcohol Policy Advocacy Conference emergedemerged



Initiative taken by Drug Initiative taken by Drug Fight Malawi Fight Malawi

2. The Conference was meant to find 2. The Conference was meant to find out the general consensus of Civil out the general consensus of Civil Society Organizations and Govt Society Organizations and Govt Agencies on the requirement of Agencies on the requirement of Alcohol Policy for Malawi and to Alcohol Policy for Malawi and to strategize way forwardstrategize way forward



National Alcohol Policy National Alcohol Policy Advocacy Conferences.Advocacy Conferences.

Two conferences have been conducted Two conferences have been conducted

- At these conferences, delegates made the - At these conferences, delegates made the following resolutions:following resolutions:

Reached a consensus on the need for Reached a consensus on the need for Malawi to come up with the National Malawi to come up with the National Alcohol PolicyAlcohol Policy



National Alcohol Policy National Alcohol Policy Advocacy conferences Advocacy conferences

Endorsed the Ministry of Home Endorsed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security as a Affairs and Internal Security as a lead Ministry in the Alcohol Policy lead Ministry in the Alcohol Policy Processes, after considering the work Processes, after considering the work of the IMCDC.of the IMCDC.



National Alcohol Policy National Alcohol Policy Advocacy conferences Advocacy conferences

Participants elected a Task Force Participants elected a Task Force Committee on Alcohol Policy in Committee on Alcohol Policy in Malawi drawn from all sectors of Malawi drawn from all sectors of society.society.



List of names of members List of names of members of the committeeof the committee

Chairperson Martha Kwataine of Chairperson Martha Kwataine of Malawi Health Equity NetworkMalawi Health Equity Network

Vice Chair Edward Chikhwana of Vice Chair Edward Chikhwana of MANASOMANASO

Secretariat; Drug Fight MalawiSecretariat; Drug Fight Malawi



Secretary for HealthSecretary for Health Secretary for Trade and IndustrySecretary for Trade and Industry Secretary for Local GovernmentSecretary for Local Government Police Headquarters-HIV SectionPolice Headquarters-HIV Section

Committee membersCommittee members



Committee Members Committee Members

Link for Education GovernanceLink for Education Governance Public Affairs CommitteePublic Affairs Committee Human Rights Consultative Human Rights Consultative

Committee Committee Youth on the MoveYouth on the Move Care MalawiCare Malawi Outreach Scout Foundation (OSF)Outreach Scout Foundation (OSF)



Some of the functions of the Some of the functions of the Task Force on Alcohol PolicyTask Force on Alcohol Policy

To link civil society and non-governmental To link civil society and non-governmental organizations with the lead Ministryorganizations with the lead Ministry

To strategize activities leading to the To strategize activities leading to the formulation of the Alcohol Policyformulation of the Alcohol Policy

To coordinate National Alcohol Policy To coordinate National Alcohol Policy consultation meetingsconsultation meetings

To coordinate publicity programs of the To coordinate publicity programs of the policy.policy.



Why is it important for all Why is it important for all stakeholders’ involvement? stakeholders’ involvement?

Acceptance and OwnershipAcceptance and Ownership Commitment Commitment



OutcomeOutcome

This has promoted wider This has promoted wider participation of various stakeholders participation of various stakeholders including the Government.including the Government.

Increased knowledge among CSOs Increased knowledge among CSOs (on linkages of alcohol consumption, (on linkages of alcohol consumption, Health, Social & Econ. Problems)Health, Social & Econ. Problems)



Outcome Outcome

Collaboration among various Collaboration among various stakeholders and other partners.stakeholders and other partners.

Interest by Ministry of Home Affairs Interest by Ministry of Home Affairs through the IMCDC to work with Civil through the IMCDC to work with Civil Society Organization as regards the Society Organization as regards the development of the Policydevelopment of the Policy



Increased mobilization of CSOs and Increased mobilization of CSOs and facilitated linkages between CSOs facilitated linkages between CSOs and the Govt.and the Govt.

OutcomeOutcome



Lessons learntLessons learnt People are committed to participate in People are committed to participate in

addressing issues affecting them addressing issues affecting them Willingness of the Govt to support the Willingness of the Govt to support the

initiativeinitiative



Lessons learntLessons learnt

Individuals in Malawi do not Individuals in Malawi do not appreciate the dangers of the appreciate the dangers of the harmful use of alcohol and silent harmful use of alcohol and silent negative contribution to National negative contribution to National development.development.



There is a fear from some quarters There is a fear from some quarters that formulation of Alcohol Policy that formulation of Alcohol Policy would necessitate the ban on alcohol would necessitate the ban on alcohol consumption in Malawi.consumption in Malawi.

What are some of the What are some of the challenges?challenges?



Inadequate expertise in the Alcohol Inadequate expertise in the Alcohol Policy formulation and on its Policy formulation and on its implementation. implementation.

Resources. Resources. Society is not aware of the harm of Society is not aware of the harm of

use of alcohol as this program is new use of alcohol as this program is new in Malawiin Malawi

What are some of the What are some of the challenges?challenges?



Capacity building at all levels (Task Capacity building at all levels (Task Force Committee, secretariat and Force Committee, secretariat and stakeholders) stakeholders)

RecommendationsRecommendations




Political will and commitment by the Political will and commitment by the Government and Legislative Government and Legislative




Combined efforts from all Combined efforts from all stakeholdersstakeholders



ConclusionConclusion

The issue of harmful use alcohol is given The issue of harmful use alcohol is given less attention yet it is one of the less attention yet it is one of the contributing factors to poverty in Malawi.contributing factors to poverty in Malawi.

In an effort to achieve development in In an effort to achieve development in Malawi, issues of alcohol consumption Malawi, issues of alcohol consumption need to be taken into consideration as need to be taken into consideration as well.well.



THE END!THE END!

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention



Documents

Drug Fight Malawi Alcohol Policy: The need for a broad consultation process in Malawi 11th November, 2008, Nkopola Lodge, Mangochi- Malawi. By Nelson B