Alcohol Abuse : Over 74,000 Cameroonians Die Each Year!

Faced with the growing incidence of alcohol abuse in the country, La Coalition des Consommateurs Camerounais, CCC on August 21, 2024 in Yaounde launched an awareness campaign. To warn the public about the risks of the harmful use of alcohol. The campaign, which runs from August 21-September 30, 2024, is supported amongst others by the Network of African Media for the Promotion of Health and the Environment, REMAPSEN and the Conseil National de la Consommation, CONACO.

74,000 Deaths Annually
Citing a study published in the journal, Health Sciences and Diseases, Prince Mpondo, the President of La Coalition des Consommateurs Camerounais, CCC, said alcohol consumption by Cameroonian university students stood at 87.93 per cent (39.04 per cent amongst girls and 60.96 per cent amongst boys. Mpondo said alcohol abuse was responsible for the deaths of 74,100 people in Cameroon a year; and millions of lives around the globe a year.    

Little Attention At Home
Mrs. Jacqueline Koa, President of Conseil National de la Consommation, CONACO, said efforts are underway at the international level and within Cameroon to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, but local breweries continue to invest. She mentioned the example of the World Health Organisation that has set targets to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, but this seems to receive little attention from Cameroonian authorities, she said.  

Role Of Media
Jules Elobo, President of Network of African Media for the Promotion of Health and the Environment, REMAPSEN said journalists have the duty to inform the public. “They therefore have a major role to play in the campaign against the abuse of alcohol by presenting to target audiences the risks they expose themselves to by consuming alcohol in an abusive manner. In addition, journalists have to carry out advocacy, by for example, reminding the authorities of the non-respect of the rules and regulations concerning alcohol consumption. Moreover, journalists should insist on the inadequacies of current legislation on alcohol consumption,” Elobo noted. 

Dividends Of Previous Sensitisation  
According to Prince Mpondo, the current awareness campaign was preceded by a similar one since January 5, 2023. During which his team and stakeholders organize media discussions on alcohol abuse, carried out internal communication on the topic, undertook field studies and outreach, and reported those violating the law. As a result, some illegal wine manufacturing sites were shut down by the authorities in Douala. The current campaign tagged “Stop alcohol abuse, yest to health,” runs from August 21-September 30, 2024

Updating Legislation 
According to Mpondo, the objective of the current campaign is to provide the public with the right information and draw attention to the risks of abusing alcohol. Such abuse causes health challenges, contributes to insecurity and immoral behaviour, Mpondo said. “We appeal to the authorities to strictly regulate the consumption of alcohol. The laws and rules are there, but are not implemented with rigour. On the other hand, legislation on alcohol consumption needs to be reviewed to meet present day demands,” he pleaded.

And Consumers?
“Consumers have a major role to play in the campaign. They need to consume alcohol responsibly because it has to do with their health in the first place. The World Health Organisation, WHO has put out a strategy to reduce the abuse of alcohol. For example, a woman should two standard glasses of alcohol a day; a man a maximum of three glasses. The body no doubt needs alcohol, but it must not be abused,” Mpondo added. Concerning whisky, he said the equivalent of a sachet a day is enough. 

Transition Plan 
“Government has put in place a transition plan which is being followed up by an inter-ministry committee to ensure quality control. The plan provides for local manufacturers to stop sachet packaging by 2026 by using other bigger forms of packaging of 100 mililitres. Sachet whiskey in Cameroon carries a negative image because it is cheap and often abused. But in reality, it is the same quality as the whiskey bottled in larger containers,” the CCC President averred. Meanwhile, the campaign entails media awareness, advocacy and proposals to the authorities, people-to-people contacts and the distribution of handbills. “We appeal to other stakeholders to join us in the campaign. The onus is on consumers to moderate their consumption,” Prince Mpondo concluded. 

WHO Strategy Plan
The Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022–2030, endorsed by the WHO Member States, aims to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through effective, evidence-based strategies at national, regional and global levels. The plan outlines six key areas for action: high-impact strategies and interventions, advocacy and awareness, partnership and coordination, technical support and capacity-building, knowledge production and information systems, and resource mobilization. 

Objectives Of WHO’s Strategy
Implementation of global strategy and action plan will accelerate global progress towards attaining alcohol-related targets under the Sustainable Development Goal 3.5 on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. Achieving this will require global, regional and national actions on the levels, patterns and contexts of alcohol consumption and the wider social determinants of health, with a particular focus on implementing high-impact cost effective interventions.  

Determining Causes Of Alcohol Abuse 
It is vital to address the determinants that drive the acceptability, availability and affordability of alcohol consumption through cross-sectoral, comprehensive and integrated policy measures. It is also of critical importance to achieve universal health coverage for people living with alcohol use disorders and other health conditions due to alcohol use by strengthening health system responses and developing comprehensive and accessible systems of treatment and care that for those in need.

The SAFER Initiative 
The SAFER initiative, launched in 2018 by WHO and partners, supports countries to implement the high-impact, cost-effective interventions proven to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption. The WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) presents data on levels and patterns of alcohol consumption, alcohol-attributable health and social consequences and policy responses across the world.

What Is Expected Of The Authorities 
Achieving a reduction in the harmful use of alcohol in line with the targets included in the Global alcohol action plan, the SDG 2030 agenda and the WHO Global monitoring framework for noncommunicable diseases, requires concerted action by countries and effective global governance. Public policies and interventions to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm should be guided and formulated by public health interests and based on clear public health goals and the best available evidence. 

All Stakeholders Needed
Engaging all relevant stakeholders is essential but the potential conflicts of interest, particularly with the alcohol industry, must be carefully assessed before engagement. Economic operators should refrain from activities that might prevent, delay or stop the development, enactment, implementation and enforcement of high-impact strategies and interventions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. By working together, with due diligence and protection from conflicts of interest, the negative health and social consequences of alcohol can be effectively reduced.

Key Facts On Alcohol Abuse 
Meanwhile, some key facts on alcohol abuse show that alcohol or alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that can cause dependence. Worldwide, around 2.6 million deaths were caused by alcohol consumption in 2019. Of these, 1.6 million deaths were from noncommunicable diseases, 700,000 deaths from injuries and 300,000 deaths from communicable diseases. The alcohol-attributable mortality was heaviest among men, accounting for 2 million deaths compared to 600,000 deaths among women, in 2019.

Millions Live With Alcohol Disorders 
An estimated 400 million people, or 7% of the world’s population aged 15 years and older, lived with alcohol use disorders. Of this, 209 million people (3.7% of the adult world population) lived with alcohol dependence. Alcohol consumption, even at low levels can bring health risks, but most alcohol related harms come from heavy episodic or heavy continuous alcohol consumption. Effective alcohol control interventions exist and should be utilized more, at the same time it is important for people to know risks associated with alcohol consumption and take individual actions to protect from its harmful effects.  

Major Cause Of Diseases 
Alcohol consumption is found to play a causal role in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions. However, the global burden of disease and injuries caused by alcohol consumption can be quantif...