Zibe, Sir Michael back department’s new alcohol policy

HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe has given his full support towards the development of the first ever national policy on reduced alcohol-related harm by the Social Change and Mental Health Services (SCMHS) of the Health Department.
SCMHS principal adviser Dr Uma Ambi and Zibe met with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and discussed the policy. The prime minister has also indicated his support of the policy.
Ambi said the introduction of the policy into the country would be a step taken with the political support.
She highlighted that there was a growing concern over the lack of regulation of alcohol production, sale and consumption in the country.
She said the policy was not to ban alcohol but to control its usage and reduce the harm it causes.
Ambi was speaking during the second stakeholders’ consultative meeting at the Lamana Hotel on Monday.
The input of ideas into the policy were gathered from important partners that would be the main implementers and that included the police, Law Reform Commission, Customs, Education Department, Department of Community Development and others.
The policy is currently in its final drafting stage and is expected to be ready by the end of this month for the minister to table it in next month’s parliament session.
Several stakeholders stressed during the meeting that the policy must ensure that issues related to alcohol abuse and the harm it causes are addressed right at the village level up to urban areas.
Some of the strategies in the policy included advocacy, standards/regulation and counselling services.
Ambi said they were not trying to stop people from drinking but to educate them to drink safely in a way that would not harm their health.
The policy will also allow the task force to penalise parties involved in the production, distribution, sale and consumption of alcohol for not complying with standards and regulations as set out in the policy or existing laws.