By Chancy Namadzunda

For Africa and Malawi in particular, consumption of alcohol and drug abuse are remain high amongst the youth. This is due to lack of guidance and counseling for youth and children in Malawi.

THE FIGHT

Drug Fight Malawi is the only organisation in Malawi sole which objective is to reduce the harm use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs for sustainable development of the nation with its activities designed to benefit all people with an emphasis on vulnerable populations of youth, women, and children.

According to Drug Fight Malawi’ Executive Director Nelson Baziwell Zakeyu, they are currently spearheading the formulation of an Alcohol Policy in the country to control the excessive alcohol consumption among the youth.

He said the organization has managed to conduct several consultation meetings where a Lead Ministry was nominated, set-up an Alcohol Policy Taskforce Committee comprising of CSOs, individuals and Government Ministries and Institutions and engaged a consultant to come up with an Alcohol Policy Framework, a tool for planned consultation meetings.

“We are also conducting anti-smoking campaigns among school-going youths in selected schools and also in some youth centers because these are the areas where the youth are trained in this immoral behavior by friends,” he said

Zakeyu also said the organisation is conducting one-to-one consultations with government officials, Members of Parliament, and some political leaders, trying to persuade the government to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

EFFECTS

“The youth have contacted HIV because of excessive alcohol and drug abuse. These are the foremost causes of diseases, gender based violence, social problems and premature deaths, mental illness and has the impact on human and the country development,” said Zakeyu

CHALLENGES

On Alcohol, Zakeyu said that the organisation dwell much on sensitization meetings with the youth as there is currently no policy.

“This is so because Malawi depends on tobacco farming as the main earner of forex. It means that the youth have an easy access to the substance since it is grown in their surroundings,” he said

Drinking alcohol remains illegal in the country thereby affecting youth development.

The main drug which is mostly consumed by the youth is marijuana, locally known as Chamba, but luckily enough, there are policies that make it illegal to be taken in public.

“This also means that we have to go into those hiding areas to sensitize the youth on the effects of taking the drug. These areas are, beer hall, youth centers and in their respective residential areas,” he said

CONCLUSION

“There is a definite need for an initiative aimed at providing information and influencing altitudes and linking the country’s alcohol culture and drug abuse directly to the country’s growing HIV/AIDS, mental illness and home based violence,” he said