AFR/RC60/R2 9 September 2010 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Sixtieth session Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 30 August –3 September 2010 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION REDUCTION OF THE HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL: A STRATEGY FOR THE WHO AFRICAN REGION (Document AFR/RC60/4) The Regional Committee, Having examined the document entitled “Reduction of the harmful use of alcohol: A strategy for the WHO African Region”; Recalling World Health Assembly resolutions WHA58.26 on public-health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol; WHA61.4 on strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol; and the endorsement at the Sixty-third World Health Assembly, in May 2010, of the global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol; Having considered the report of the Regional Director on “Harmful use of alcohol in the WHO African Region: situation analysis and perspectives” and on “Actions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol” respectively presented at the Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth sessions of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa; Recognizing that the alcohol-attributable burden of disease is increasing in the African Region and that public health problems related to alcohol consumption are substantial and can adversely affect people other than the alcohol user; Acknowledging that a significant proportion of alcohol consumed in the Region is produced informally and that it may entail additional health hazards; Concerned about the increasing evidence linking alcohol with illicit drugs consumption and with high-risk sexual behaviour and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; Noting the lack of public awareness and the low recognition of alcohol-related harm; Conscious of the need to ensure government leadership in order to protect at-risk populations, youths, and people affected by harmful drinking of others; Noting the existing opportunities to mobilize the community, the health sector and partners to improve surveillance and develop evidence-based interventions; AFR/RC60/R2 Page 2 Mindful of the need to consider multisectoral approaches and coordinate with key intervening agencies, organizations and stakeholders; 1. ENDORSES the Regional Strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol in the WHO African Region as proposed in Document AFR/RC60/PSC/4; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to acknowledge harmful use of alcohol as a major public health issue and accord it priority in their national health, social and development agendas; (b) to develop, strengthen and implement evidence-based national policies and interventions and adopt and enforce necessary regulations and legislation in this area; (c) to mobilize and ensure appropriate financial and human resources to implement national alcohol policies and consider using revenues resulting from alcohol taxes to support the implementation of this Strategy; (d) to set up the necessary research, surveillance and monitoring mechanisms to assess performance in alcohol policy implementation and ensure regular reporting to the WHO Secretariat; (e) to ensure intersectoral coordination through the creation of an intersectoral committee bringing together all relevant governmental sectors, agencies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations; (f) to create public awareness on alcohol-related harm and encourage the mobilization and active engagement of all the social and economic groups concerned in reducing harmful use of alcohol; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to support and give priority to prevention and reduction of harmful use of alcohol and to increase efforts to mobilize necessary resources to implement this Strategy; (b) to provide technical support to Member States in building and strengthening institutional capacity to develop and implement national policies and evidence-based interventions to prevent harm from alcohol use; (c) to provide technical support to Member States for integrating prevention and treatment interventions for harmful use of alcohol into the primary health care approach, and to strengthen country capacity for adequate treatment, care and support for those with alcohol use disorders and their families; (d) to support further collection and analysis of data on alcohol consumption and its health and social consequences and reinforce the WHO regional information system on alcohol and health; (e) to facilitate research on and dissemination of best practices among African countries through conferences and facilitate the implementation of this Strategy by organizing a regional network of national counterparts; (f) to draw up a regional action plan for implementing this Strategy; AFR/RC60/R2 Page 3 (g) to organize regional open consultations with representatives of the alcohol industry, trade, agriculture and other relevant sectors on how they can contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol; (h) to report on progress made in the implementation of the regional strategy to the Regional Committee every two years and at regional or international forums as appropriate.
AFR/RC60/R2 9 September 2010 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Sixtieth session Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 30 August –3 September 2010 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION REDUCTION OF THE HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL: A STRATEGY FOR THE WHO AFRICAN REGION (Document AFR/RC60/4) The Regional Committee, Having examined the document entitled “Reduction of the harmful use of alcohol: A strategy for the WHO African Region”; Recalling World Health Assembly resolutions WHA58.26 on public-health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol; WHA61.4 on strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol; and the endorsement at the Sixty-third World Health Assembly, in May 2010, of the global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol; Having considered the report of the Regional Director on “Harmful use of alcohol in the WHO African Region: situation analysis and perspectives” and on “Actions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol” respectively presented at the Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth sessions of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa; Recognizing that the alcohol-attributable burden of disease is increasing in the African Region and that public health problems related to alcohol consumption are substantial and can adversely affect people other than the alcohol user; Acknowledging that a significant proportion of alcohol consumed in the Region is produced informally and that it may entail additional health hazards; Concerned about the increasing evidence linking alcohol with illicit drugs consumption and with high-risk sexual behaviour and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; Noting the lack of public awareness and the low recognition of alcohol-related harm; Conscious of the need to ensure government leadership in order to protect at-risk populations, youths, and people affected by harmful drinking of others; Noting the existing opportunities to mobilize the community, the health sector and partners to improve surveillance and develop evidence-based interventions; AFR/RC60/R2 Page 2 Mindful of the need to consider multisectoral approaches and coordinate with key intervening agencies, organizations and stakeholders; 1. ENDORSES the Regional Strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol in the WHO African Region as proposed in Document AFR/RC60/PSC/4; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to acknowledge harmful use of alcohol as a major public health issue and accord it priority in their national health, social and development agendas; (b) to develop, strengthen and implement evidence-based national policies and interventions and adopt and enforce necessary regulations and legislation in this area; (c) to mobilize and ensure appropriate financial and human resources to implement national alcohol policies and consider using revenues resulting from alcohol taxes to support the implementation of this Strategy; (d) to set up the necessary research, surveillance and monitoring mechanisms to assess performance in alcohol policy implementation and ensure regular reporting to the WHO Secretariat; (e) to ensure intersectoral coordination through the creation of an intersectoral committee bringing together all relevant governmental sectors, agencies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations; (f) to create public awareness on alcohol-related harm and encourage the mobilization and active engagement of all the social and economic groups concerned in reducing harmful use of alcohol; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to support and give priority to prevention and reduction of harmful use of alcohol and to increase efforts to mobilize necessary resources to implement this Strategy; (b) to provide technical support to Member States in building and strengthening institutional capacity to develop and implement national policies and evidence-based interventions to prevent harm from alcohol use; (c) to provide technical support to Member States for integrating prevention and treatment interventions for harmful use of alcohol into the primary health care approach, and to strengthen country capacity for adequate treatment, care and support for those with alcohol use disorders and their families; (d) to support further collection and analysis of data on alcohol consumption and its health and social consequences and reinforce the WHO regional information system on alcohol and health; (e) to facilitate research on and dissemination of best practices among African countries through conferences and facilitate the implementation of this Strategy by organizing a regional network of national counterparts; (f) to draw up a regional action plan for implementing this Strategy; AFR/RC60/R2 Page 3 (g) to organize regional open consultations with representatives of the alcohol industry, trade, agriculture and other relevant sectors on how they can contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol; (h) to report on progress made in the implementation of the regional strategy to the Regional Committee every two years and at regional or international forums as appropriate.