DRUG FIGHT MALAWI DRUG FIGHT MALAWI Mobilization for a broad National consultation processes on Alcohol Policies; conclusion from an NGO initiatives Crossroads

DRUG FIGHT MALAWIDRUG FIGHT MALAWI

Mobilization for a broad National consultation Mobilization for a broad National consultation processes on Alcohol Policies; conclusion from an processes on Alcohol Policies; conclusion from an

NGO initiativesNGO initiativesCrossroads Hotel –MalawiCrossroads Hotel –Malawi

1212thth November, 2008 November, 2008By: Nelson B. ZakeyuBy: Nelson B. Zakeyu

Executive Director-Drug Fight Malawi Executive Director-Drug Fight Malawi Email; Email; [email protected]@yahoo.com

Cell; 265(0)9930740Cell; 265(0)9930740

Drug Fight

Malawi

The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

Drug Fight MalawiDrug Fight Malawi

Introduction:Introduction:

Alcohol consumption is not a crime in Alcohol consumption is not a crime in most parts of the world, Malawi most parts of the world, Malawi inclusive. In Malawi, alcohol is inclusive. In Malawi, alcohol is consumed almost everywhere by consumed almost everywhere by youths, men and women.youths, men and women.

In most areas people are found In most areas people are found totally drunk as early as 6:00 hrs.totally drunk as early as 6:00 hrs.


IntroductionIntroduction

Alcohol is consumed any time, any Alcohol is consumed any time, any place e.g. bars/pubs, restaurants, place e.g. bars/pubs, restaurants, homes etc and is regarded as a homes etc and is regarded as a tradition in some parts of the tradition in some parts of the country. country.



Alcohol consumption&Poverty Alcohol consumption&Poverty in Malawiin Malawi

While majority consume alcohol in While majority consume alcohol in Malawi, the country remains the Malawi, the country remains the least developed in Southern Africa least developed in Southern Africa and the 13th poorest country in the and the 13th poorest country in the world (UNDP)world (UNDP)

There has to be many factors There has to be many factors contributing to poverty in Malawi and contributing to poverty in Malawi and alcohol consumption could be a silent alcohol consumption could be a silent but major contributing factorbut major contributing factorThe Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

Drug Fight Drug Fight MalawiMalawi

Issue/ProblemIssue/Problem

HIV transmission and Alcohol useHIV transmission and Alcohol use;; People who are drunk tend to have their People who are drunk tend to have their

reasoning capacity lowered hence can easily reasoning capacity lowered hence can easily fall into temptations of engaging in fall into temptations of engaging in unprotected sex. In most cases, prostitutes unprotected sex. In most cases, prostitutes are found at alcohol drinking places.are found at alcohol drinking places.

There is also an understanding that alcohol There is also an understanding that alcohol consumption foster acceleration to full brown consumption foster acceleration to full brown AIDS for those already infected by HIV.AIDS for those already infected by HIV.




Road accidents.Road accidents. Malawi has of late witnessed Malawi has of late witnessed

increase in cases of road accidents increase in cases of road accidents where lots of lives are lost. The where lots of lives are lost. The police have often linked most of the police have often linked most of the road accidents to driving under the road accidents to driving under the influence of alcohol.influence of alcohol.




TB infection.TB infection. TB patients are advised to avoid TB patients are advised to avoid

taking alcohol during treatmenttaking alcohol during treatment




The dwindling standards of education.The dwindling standards of education. Rudeness, acts of violence and Rudeness, acts of violence and

destructions by pupils and students in destructions by pupils and students in schools and colleges affect the learning schools and colleges affect the learning environment and contribute to decline in environment and contribute to decline in the quality of education.the quality of education.

Teaching while drunk makes teachers lose Teaching while drunk makes teachers lose concentration and contributes to bad concentration and contributes to bad behavior to learners.behavior to learners.The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!



Increase of murder cases.Increase of murder cases. In the Nation Newspaper of In the Nation Newspaper of

Wednesday of 22nd December, 2007, Wednesday of 22nd December, 2007, the judiciary in Malawi lamented on the judiciary in Malawi lamented on the increase of murder cases which the increase of murder cases which were linked to harmful use of alcohol.were linked to harmful use of alcohol.

Most of these cases occur in drinking Most of these cases occur in drinking places and in homes (GBV).places and in homes (GBV).




General health problems.General health problems. Other health personnel link the consumption Other health personnel link the consumption

of alcohol as one of the underlying causes of of alcohol as one of the underlying causes of major health problems. Harmful use of major health problems. Harmful use of alcohol not only contributes to diseases such alcohol not only contributes to diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis etc, but it as cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis etc, but it also affects the health of the family and also affects the health of the family and community in different ways e.g. community in different ways e.g. malnutrition. Drunkards prioritize their malnutrition. Drunkards prioritize their spending on alcohol than basic needs at spending on alcohol than basic needs at home.home.The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!



ProductivityProductivity Those who take alcohol, their work Those who take alcohol, their work

performance is affected through performance is affected through absenteeism, unruly behavior during absenteeism, unruly behavior during developmental meetings and or developmental meetings and or unable to adhere to working unable to adhere to working standards.standards.

Short summaryShort summary

It is evident enough therefore It is evident enough therefore (despite lack of country wide (despite lack of country wide evidence based information) that evidence based information) that alcohol consumption affects alcohol consumption affects developmental initiatives.developmental initiatives.

Alcohol related problems not only Alcohol related problems not only reduce the safety and quality of life, reduce the safety and quality of life, it is also a source of substantial it is also a source of substantial expense. expense. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!


Strategies to reduce harm Strategies to reduce harm from alcohol consumptionfrom alcohol consumption

Community empowerment is Community empowerment is essential essential

Coordinated approach of all spheresCoordinated approach of all spheres Use of Alcohol PolicyUse of Alcohol Policy



Strategies to reduce harm from Strategies to reduce harm from use of Alcoholuse of Alcohol

It is good to note that some It is good to note that some organizations in Malawi are realizing organizations in Malawi are realizing the need to take part in prevention the need to take part in prevention activities on the harm from alcohol activities on the harm from alcohol consumption. consumption.



Need for alcohol policyNeed for alcohol policy It is common knowledge that for all alcohol It is common knowledge that for all alcohol

activities to be carried out more effectively activities to be carried out more effectively and smoothly there is a need for a and smoothly there is a need for a regulatory framework. regulatory framework.

It is to this effect that Drug Fight Malawi It is to this effect that Drug Fight Malawi has taken the initiative of mobilizing has taken the initiative of mobilizing various stakeholders to engage and various stakeholders to engage and influence the formulation of the National influence the formulation of the National Alcohol PolicyAlcohol Policy

Strategies to reduce harm Strategies to reduce harm from alcohol consumption from alcohol consumption



Advocacy Advocacy

National Alcohol Policy ConferencesNational Alcohol Policy Conferences Two conferences have been held and Two conferences have been held and

came out with the following;came out with the following;- Agreed that there is a need for Malawi Agreed that there is a need for Malawi

Government to formulate the alcohol Government to formulate the alcohol policypolicy

Endorsed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Endorsed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security as a lead Ministry, after Internal Security as a lead Ministry, after considering the role of the Inter-Ministerial considering the role of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control chaired by the Committee on Drug Control chaired by the Ministry.Ministry.The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!


AdvocacyAdvocacy

Put in place a Task Force Committee Put in place a Task Force Committee which is composed of all sectors of which is composed of all sectors of societysociety

Some functions of the Task Force Some functions of the Task Force Committee on Alcohol Policy;Committee on Alcohol Policy;

- To link all civil society organizations with To link all civil society organizations with the lead Ministrythe lead Ministry

- Responsible for planning of consultations Responsible for planning of consultations meetingsmeetings

- To coordinate consultations processesTo coordinate consultations processes



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

Inadequate expertise on alcohol Inadequate expertise on alcohol prevention activities prevention activities

Resources. Resources. Slow acceptance by community on Slow acceptance by community on

the harm of alcohol consumptionthe harm of alcohol consumption Alcohol industry based policyAlcohol industry based policy



RecommendationsRecommendations

Sustained and coordinated multi-Sustained and coordinated multi-sectoral approach.sectoral approach.

Reliable source of fundingReliable source of funding Cooperation among stakeholdersCooperation among stakeholders Increased Government and political Increased Government and political

willwill Consultation meetingsConsultation meetings



RecommendationsRecommendations

Capacity building.Capacity building. Conducting Nation wide base line Conducting Nation wide base line

survey.survey.



Conclusion.Conclusion.

- For sustainable development of the For sustainable development of the country, prevention of alcohol country, prevention of alcohol consumption has to be among the consumption has to be among the prioritized issues. prioritized issues.



The end!The end!



Thank you for the attentionThank you for the attention

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AdvocacyAdvocacy













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DRUG FIGHT MALAWI DRUG FIGHT MALAWI Mobilization for a broad National consultation processes on Alcohol Policies; conclusion from an NGO initiatives Crossroads