By Frank Kamuntu
Dr. Khanakwa Sarah (PhD), who heads the resource mobilization department at Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) under the office of the president and also an aspirant for Namisindwa District woman member of parliament has cautioned consumers of locally brewed alcohol known as Malwa to drink responsibly to avoid the negative impacts of alcohol on health and wealth.
Dr. Khanakwa told the consumers during her consultative meetings over the weekend in Namisindwa that alcohol abuse can be a consequence of financial drain, adding that money spent on alcohol could have been spent on more basic human needs such as food, shelter, health care, and education.
“I do not drink alcohol but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t associate with those who enjoy it,” said Khanakwa during an interaction with her electorates in Luwa Town Council.
Alcohol remains one of the most consumed psychoactive substances in the world, with the global alcohol consumption per capita for persons aged 15 years or older increasing from 6.2 liters in 2014 to 6.4 liters of pure alcohol consumed per year in 2016 according to a WHO report of 2018.
Important to note is that while alcohol is a necessary socioeconomic driver, its abuse has greatly contributed to the loss of lives, families, economies, and public health.
A 2022 study by WHO suggests that the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. Worldwide, WHO indicates that at least 3 million deaths every year are due to the harmful use of alcohol. This represents 5.3% of all deaths.
Overall 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The WHO 2022 report also states that beyond health consequences, the harmful use of alcohol brings significant social and economic losses to individuals and society at large. On deaths and disability in people aged 20–39 years, approximately 13.5% of total deaths are attributable to alcohol.
Meanwhile, repeated surveys, by the World Health Organization (WHO), have categorized Ugandans as the leading continental alcohol consumers for more than three decades.
For as low as UGX 500 (about 0.13 cents of US Dollars), anyone as young as 15 years can access a sachet of highly toxic beverage ranging anywhere between 40-50% of alcohol content.
According to the 2023 report released by the global health body, on average, a Ugandan consumes 12.21 litres of pure alcohol annually and men consume more than women.
Therefore, based on the above alarming facts, Dr Khanakwa’s message aligns well with WHO’s repeated cautions against irresponsible boozing.
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