West Africa: Experts Deliberate Alcohol Policy
A three-day workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of national agencies to regulate food and alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages was conducted in Accra, Ghana.
The theme for the workshop was “Towards strengthening regional capacity in regulation for improved nutrition and health in West Africa.”
Organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the workshop was attended by officials from the Ministry of Health (MOH), regulatory agencies from all member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations (UN) agencies and about 50 experts drawn from across the regions.
Importance of taking action on reducing NCDs
The WHO representative to Ghana, Dr Owen Kaluwa spoke on the importance of taking effective action to reduce NCDs which cause about 70% of deaths worldwide.
The five major NCDs risk factors are alcohol use, tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and airpollution.
Dr Kaluwa stated that, addressing NCDs necessitated that countries developed multi-sectoral national strategic policies to guide the work and response of all stakeholders.
As we pursue universal health coverage we should ensure that the package of essential services we are offering include interventions to address NCDs through the continuum of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services building on primary healthcare,” said Dr Owen Kaluwa, WHO representative to Ghana, as per All Africa.
The alcohol problem in the country
Several issues relating to alcohol highlighted in the speech by Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, were:
- Inaccurate advertising i.e. claims such as alcohol increases sexual performance;
- Aggressive marketing targeted to increase consumption of alcohol;
- Alcohol consumption’s effect on health, road safety and risky behaviour;
- Rise in population income leading to increased alcohol consumption which in turn has a negative effect on the economic progress in the country.
It is evident that Ghana, as well as other countries across Western Africa, need comprehensive alcohol control policies to keep low alcohol abstention rates and drive down consumption and related harm to promote health and development for all.