National response to harmful use of alcohol. A presentation By Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi Principal Medical Officer In charge- Alcohol Control Programme

Transcription

1 National response to harmful use of alcohol A presentation By Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi Principal Medical Officer In charge- Alcohol Control Programme

2 Introduction Alcohol is widely used in all societies in Uganda but its harmful use causes a large disease, social and economic burden to society According to the Global status on alcohol and health (2014), worldwide consumption was 6.2ltrs of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years or older equivalent to 13.5gms of pure alcohol per day (2010) 24.8% of alcohol consumed globally was unrecorded or homemade or informal with 50.1% being spitits.

3 Abstainers for one year globally were 61.7% of the population 15years and above, with more females than men. 16% of drinkers engage in binge or heavy episodic drinking. In 2012, 5.1% translating to 39million DALYs of global burden of disease and injury were attributable to alcohol consumption

4 Alcohol use in Uganda Alcohol use per capita for 15years and above was 9.8ltrs of pure alcohol with males at 14.4ltrs and females at 5.2ltrs compared to average of 6ltrs for WHO AFRO. Drinkers only were taking average of 23.7ltrs of pure alcohol while 8.3% were binging and abstainers for 12months were58.7% and life time abstainers 41.4%

5 cntd Regarding the health burden the alcohol attributable fraction for liver cirrhosis was 72.2% for males and 68.8% for females Prevalence of alcohol use disorders was 5.8% for both sexes with 10% for males compared to 3.3% for WHO AFRO. Alcohol dependance was 2.5% for both sexes with 4.2% for males compared to 1.4% for AFRO.

6 Policy responses Uganda is drafting an Alcohol Control Policy in line with the Global strategy for reduction of harmful use of alcohol, which was adopted at the 63 rd Session of the World Health Assembly in 2010 The major policies for control of alcohol include: Excise tax on licensed alcohol but a big percentage of alcohol is not being taxed and sold on the informal market. Legal minimum age for off premise is 18years but this is not being observed due to poor enforcement, packaging in sachets in small volumes entices young people to use alcohol. The Policy proposal is 21yrs of age

7 cntd There is restriction for on and off premises sales including hours, days, places etc although it is not observed. Policy draft proposes enforcement of this provision and also restrict sales to intoxicated people and other specific events. On drink driving maximum legal blood concentration of 0.08 for general public, young people and professionals to be revised to 0.02 or zero for professional drivers

8 cntd No legally binding regulations on advertising and product placement. Draft Policy proposes restricting advertising to only brand names and no other explanations. Alcohol industry should be banned from promotions to youth through the youth drinking prevention campaigns which have been found to instead market alcohol (give examples) No health warnings on alcohol adverts and containers. Draft proposes health warnings developed by Ministry of Health on labels on alcohol containers.

9 Government support to communities for action is very limited. Draft Policy proposes strengthening capacity of local governments, CSOs, and other stakeholders to identify and implement evidence based interventions to reduce alcohol related harm. A good alcohol control programme needs a national monitoring system Draft Policy proposes an Alcohol Control coordinating body which should set up a comprehensive monitoring system as the current one is rather fragmented.