ALCOHOL PRODUCTS

2009-01-07 11:56:49
By Correspondent Beatrice Philemon

Although alcohol products are a major source of revenue in many countries including Tanzania, still there is a need to educate the people on its harmful effects so that the country can meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Gunnar Lundstrom, regional representative of a Dar es Salaam-based firm - IOGT-INTO Movement International Institute - told `The Guardian` on Monday that there was need to embark on the public awareness campaign because alcohol other drugs were having a very disasterous impact on children`s future, which, in turn, was an obstacle to development and a major factor in not reaching the MDGs.

He said arousing public awareness on the negative impact of alcohol would spur the government to review its policy on alcohol policy with a view to protecting both the producers and consumers and reducing its use.

According to Lundstrom, alcohol was a major cause for low productivity, and was very costly to the society in terms of health complications, accidents, criminality and poor education.

Moreover, he said alcohol accounted for about 60 per cent of diseases related to its consumption, decreased the efficacy of the immune system and led to endless marital tiff.

``For example, instead of buying school uniforms and paying school fees, the money is instead used for buying alcohol,`` he said.

According to him, if governments do not take serious measures to address these obstacles, the Millennium Development Goals would not be achieved.

He called for increased advocacy and lobbying to have national governments, the East African Community and development agencies to increase their efforts in making the public ackowledge that alcohol was a serius obstacle to development and poverty reduction.

· SOURCE: Guardian

KIZUNGUMKUTI HIKI KINATUATHIRI SOTE. Dada Beatrice Philemon kwa nini umeficha kutaja kinaga ubaga kuwa ulevi hudumisha domestic violence na kuipamba kwa kuiita marital tiff? Hii ya pili si ndio ile ya kupigwa kwa upande wa kanga?