Your gateway to information about alcohol and drugs as a development issue.
PEPFAR Southern & Eastern Africa Technical Consultation
Alcohol and HIV Prevention
More than 80 participants representing fourteen countries in East and Southern Africa met in Windhoek, Namibia last month to share approaches to alcohol-related HIV prevention programs. Presentations from the meeting are available from the AIDSTAR-One web site.
First WHO Global status report on NCDs
Millions of NCD deaths can be prevented
Noncommunicable diseases are the leading killer today and are on the increase, the first WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) launched In Moscow during the WHO Global Forum confirms. But millions of deaths can be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that exist today.
WHO DG Margaret Chan at Moscow Global Forum:
The rise of NCD: an impending disaster
At the opening of the recent WHO Global Forum, Addressing the Challenge of Noncommunicable Diseases, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, in her opening statement called the rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases an impending disaster - for health, for society, and most of all for national economies."
Invitations are now out:
Global Alcohol Policy Conference in Bangkok in November
Lesotho: Training session held on evidence-based alcohol policies
“Prevention of alcohol problems is a leadership issue for the whole nation. The issue must be brought to the top of our political agenda”, says Lesotho’s Honourable Minister of Tourism, M. Ramaili (picture left). Lesotho’s alcohol policy will now be revised.
Promotion campaign in the US:
"Drink vodka to prevent HIV/AIDS!"
“The most hypocritical Product (Red) product yet”, says the US based Marin Institute about Belvedere Vodka. This vodka brand is now promoted with the objective to "empower global consumers to help eliminate HIV/AIDS with (BELVEDERE)RED Special Edition."
Say South African health experts:
Global Fund SAB tie is extremely problematic
South African Breweries and the Global Fund has formalised a partnership to fight against HIV and AIDS. "This arrangement is extremely problematic and is in our view, completely unacceptable" say health experts pointing to conflict of interest, lack of evidence base and questionable quality of programme.
Research report from Zambia:
Alcohol advertising works while alcohol education seems to have little effect
Alcohol advertising seeks to influence young people’s drinking habits while alcohol education programs appears not to have the same effect in preventing youth from drinking. This is the key result of a study from Zambia which was published recently.
New manual for community involvement from CWC, India
Children as agents of change
Children can make a real difference in their communities. A new manual on rights-based research from Concerned for Working Children (CWC) in Bangalore, India shows how children can be empowered to influence their community and also local alcohol policies.
Health versus profits:
Conflict over liquor sachets in Malawi
Malawi now experiences a conflict over liquor sachets. Government and NGOs versus alcohol producers. Health versus profits. Also other countries in Africa face problems with the small plastic bags with strong liquor.
