Reduction of the harmful use of alcohol: a strategy for the WHO African Region
Loading...
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Description
Regional Committee for Africa Sixtieth SessionMalabo, Equatorial Guinea, 30 August–3 September 2010: Provisional agenda item 7.2
1. Public health problems related to alcohol consumption are substantial and have a significantadverse impact on both the alcohol user and the society. In the African Region, the alcohol attributableburden of disease is increasing with an estimated total of deaths attributable to harmfuluse of alcohol of 2.1% in 2000, 2.2% in 2002 and 2.4% in 2004. However, with new evidencesuggesting a relationship between heavy drinking and infectious diseases, alcohol-attributabledeaths in the African Region could be even higher.2. No other product so widely available for consumer use accounts for so much premature deathand disability as alcohol. Alcohol-related problems and their adverse impact result not only fromthe quantities of alcohol consumed but also from the detrimental patterns of use. Effective andadequate policy measures and interventions, surveillance mechanisms and public awareness needto be developed or enforced in the Region.3. The Strategy aims to contribute to the prevention and reduction of harmful use of alcohol andrelated problems in the Region. It reviews the regional situation and provides a framework foraction in Member States and for the Region, taking into consideration the global developments.The Strategy is intended to provide balanced guidance on priority interventions to be implemented,taking into account the Region’s economic, social and cultural diversity.4. The Regional Committee is invited to review and endorse this proposed Strategy
1. Public health problems related to alcohol consumption are substantial and have a significantadverse impact on both the alcohol user and the society. In the African Region, the alcohol attributableburden of disease is increasing with an estimated total of deaths attributable to harmfuluse of alcohol of 2.1% in 2000, 2.2% in 2002 and 2.4% in 2004. However, with new evidencesuggesting a relationship between heavy drinking and infectious diseases, alcohol-attributabledeaths in the African Region could be even higher.2. No other product so widely available for consumer use accounts for so much premature deathand disability as alcohol. Alcohol-related problems and their adverse impact result not only fromthe quantities of alcohol consumed but also from the detrimental patterns of use. Effective andadequate policy measures and interventions, surveillance mechanisms and public awareness needto be developed or enforced in the Region.3. The Strategy aims to contribute to the prevention and reduction of harmful use of alcohol andrelated problems in the Region. It reviews the regional situation and provides a framework foraction in Member States and for the Region, taking into consideration the global developments.The Strategy is intended to provide balanced guidance on priority interventions to be implemented,taking into account the Region’s economic, social and cultural diversity.4. The Regional Committee is invited to review and endorse this proposed Strategy