No alcohol is the best choice, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa warned in its message on World No Alcohol Day, Wednesday, October 2. Health professionals in the country have raised concerns over the growing number of people consuming alcohol in Rwanda, following a survey conducted by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). The survey revealed that alcohol consumption in the country increased from 41 percent in 2013 to 48 percent in 2022. ALSO READ: Let us talk about alcohol, writes First Lady Jeannette Kagame In a post on X urging people to choose health over alcohol, the WHO African Region also noted that: “Younger people are disproportionately affected by alcohol consumption, with the largest portion of alcohol-attributable deaths among those aged 20-39.” No alcohol is the best choice! Younger people are disproportionately affected by alcohol consumption, with the largest portion of alcohol-attributable deaths among those aged 20-39. This #WorldNoAlcoholDay, choose health over alcohol. pic.twitter.com/vlJ5BBKcOO — WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) October 2, 2024 The UN’s health agency notes that Africa is faced with a growing burden of harmful alcohol consumption and its disastrous effects. “There is no other consumer product as widely available as alcohol that accounts for as much premature death and disability.” It is noted that there are two main characteristics that describe alcohol consumption patterns in the Region: a high level of alcohol abstention in some countries and high-volume consumption with severe health and social consequences in others. “Alcohol use has immediate and long-term effects that increase the risks associated with numerous health conditions. Alcohol is a leading cause of risky sexual behaviours such as unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, and produces an increased risk of sexual assault. These behaviours can result in unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV.” In the Region, it is noted, HPV is a significant threat and is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Alcohol is also known to increase cancer of the liver, breast, colon, oesophagus, throat and mouth. “Heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure – all significant health conditions in the Region – can develop from the harmful use of alcohol. Alcoholic hepatitis and scarring of the liver are also devastating outcomes of alcohol use.” Key Facts by WHO Worldwide, 3.3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol, this represent 5.9 % of all deaths. The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. Overall 5.1 % of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Alcohol consumption causes death and disability relatively early in life. In the age group 20 – 39 years approximately 25 % of the total deaths are alcohol-attributable. There is a causal relationship between harmful use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other noncommunicable conditions as well as injuries. The latest causal relationships have been established between harmful drinking and incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis as well as the course of HIV/AIDS. Beyond health consequences, the harmful use of alcohol brings significant social and economic losses to individuals and society at large.
