Over five million Tanzanians drink too much, posing a threat to their health, family life and productivity, a survey conducted between February and October has indicated.
According to deputy minister for Health and Social Welfare Seif Seleman Rashid, the situation is now catastrophic, and the government has been forced to embark on a special programme to tackle the problem in conjunction with the World Health Organisation.
“Over drinking is now a big problem that needs urgent solution and the government has already put plans in place to face the challenge,” Dr Rashid told the Parliament in Dodoma yesterday. Excessive drinking is reportedly rampant among men, as 3.6 million of them are categorised as alcoholic while women in this group are 1.7 million.
The deputy minister admitted that the government cannot stop adults from drinking; adding that it can only urge them to drink responsibly.
“As a government, there is little we can do on this matter, consumers should understand the side- effects of too much alcohol and decide what to do on their own,” said the deputy minister. About 29 per cent of Tanzanians, equivalent to 13.1 million people, consume alcohol, the deputy minister noted.
He added that the government, through his ministry, has already instructed all regional hospitals to lay modalities of treating non-communicable diseases, including alcoholism and drug addiction.
The deputy minister was responding to Mr Abdallah Haji Ali (Kiwani-CCM), who wanted to know if the government plans to ban alcohol.
The MP said alcohol was leading to a rise in accidents, deaths, rape and social strife. The deputy minister, however, noted that excessive drinking was a global problem, whereby at least two million people die annually due to excessive alcohol use. The minister did not give data for Tanzania.
TheCitzen
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