ALL 193 member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have, for the first time, reached consensus at the World Health Assembly on a resolution to confront the harmful use of alcohol.
The WHO, reporting the landmark decision last week, noted that the harmful use of alcohol contributes to poor health globally, can devastate families, and damage the structure of communities.
“Every year, the harmful use of alcohol kills 2.5 million people, including 320,000 young people between 15 and 29 years of age. It is the eighth leading risk factor for deaths globally, and harmful use of alcohol was responsible for almost 4% of all deaths in the world, according to the estimates for 2004,” it said.
The widespread woes associated with the abuse of alcohol are all too familiar in countries like Guyana and sister states in the Caribbean where ‘rum drinking’ is sadly seen as part of the national culture.
Despite the awful tales of distress, broken families, violence and even death associated with `rum drinking’, of which drunk driving is only a part, the syndrome is perpetuated in the hugely popular ‘chutney’ lyrics and other songs. The popularity of `chutney’ songs like `Rum till I die’, `Gimme me rum in the morning…in the evening’, `Girl you know I was a drinker’ is so pervasive that they are aired during breaks at international cricket matches played in the Caribbean.
Stemming alcohol abuse in societies still grappling with serious development problems adds to the strains on the health system, but a comprehensive strategy has to be developed to address it, because the toll of the epidemic is too heavy.
So, it is welcome news that in addition to the resolution at the WHO World Health Assembly in Geneva, there is a global strategy developed by WHO in close collaboration with member states.
WHO said this provides a portfolio of policy options and interventions for implementation at national level, with the goal of reducing the harmful use of alcohol worldwide.
The resolution, it reported, endorses the strategy, and urges countries to complement and support national responses to public health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol.
Ten recommended target areas for policy options include health services’ responses, community action, pricing policies, and reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcohol.
WHO was also requested to support countries in implementing the strategy and monitoring progress at global, regional and national levels.
“The resolution and the strategy set priority areas for global action, provide guidance to countries, and give a strong mandate to WHO to strengthen action at all levels on reducing harmful use of alcohol,” said WHO Assistant Director-General, Dr. Ala Alwan.
According to the WHO, harmful drinking is also a major avoidable risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis of the liver and various cancers. It is also associated with various infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and TB, as well as road traffic accidents, violence and suicides.
Successful implementation of the strategy will require concerted action by countries, effective global governance and appropriate engagement of all relevant stakeholders, WHO noted. To this end, it said it will also encourage that the strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol are included as an integral part of work on global development and in related investment decisions.
Guyana and other Caribbean countries can do much better without the glorification of the abuse of rum drinking.