National conference on alcohol prevention in Malawi 12 November 2008

The conference will focus on alcohol problems as an obstacle to development and welfare in Malawi. Key development issues will be discussed as a part of this; HIV/AIDS, gender, gender-based violence, children at risk.It will provide opportunities for sharing of experiences between Malawian NGOs/ government agencies and corresponding institutions from Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Tchad, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden and Norway, as FORUT is holding its annual partner meeting in Malawi in November.

An updated and detailed program for the conference can be downloaded here.

Time and venue:

Crossroads Hotel, Crossroads Complex in Lilongwe

Wednesday 12 November 2008, 09.00 – 17.00 (registration from 08.30)

Registration of participants:

Registrations for the conference are handled by the NGO Gender Coordination Network:

Network Coordinator Eunice Chamgomo,

E-mail: info@ngogcn.org and telephone 08 376 974

Please give your full name, name of your organizations or institution, your e-mail address and which of the four parallel thematic sessions you would like to attend (see list below).

Deadline for registrations is the 7th of November.

The conference is free of charge, lunch buffet and refreshments included. Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

Plenary session:

The conference starts with a plenary session which includes:

Principle Secretary M.M. Mononga, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control

Morten Lønstad, Secretary General of FORUT Norway

WHO Regional Office for Africa (not confirmed yet): Alcohol problems as an obstacle to development; challenges for Africa, 

Professor Thomas Babor, University of Connecticut School of Medicine (video): Effective and evidence based interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm 

Jennifer N. Kimani, President’s Office of the Republic of Kenya: Handling vested interests that promote alcohol consumption; the case of Kenya

Parallel thematic sessions

Most of the conference will be organized as four parallel thematic sessions:

1. New evidence: Alcohol as risk factor for HIV/AIDS

2. International experiences: Prevention of substance abuse among children at risk

3. Alcohol policy: Best practices and how to use them in Malawi

4. How to deal with alcohol as a risk factor for gender-based violence

 

Dr. Neo Morojele, Medical Research Council of South Africa

Dr. Mary Shawa, Principal Secretary, Department of Nutrition, HIV and Aids National AIDS Commission

Nelson Zakeyu, Executive Director of Drug Fight Malawi

Rogers Kasirye, Uganda Youth Development Link

Emma Kaliya, President of the NGO Gender Coordination Network

Experts from FORUT organizations and partners in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Norway