SDA launches anti-alcoholism initiative

The Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Malawi was yesterday expected to launch the International Commission for Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (ICPA) as part of the drive to combat alcohol and drug abuse in the country.

In a statement released prior to the launch, SDA Malawi Union president, Pastor Frackson Kuyama, expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute towards the reduction of problems such as divorce, suicide, wife battering and poverty, among others.

Kuyama said the launch of the initiative will help the organising team in the development of principles, procedures, goals and ways of working among the church, government and other collaborating partners in the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse.

“The SDA Church recognises the problems and abuse that adults and children are going through as a result of alcoholism and drugs. It is for this reason that the church decided to launch the ICPA,” he said.

Kuyama indicated that ICPA will mainly focus on prevention, education, youth resilience, advocacy and dissemination of knowledge and technology with regard to drug, alcohol and other habits that are associated with the abuse.

Besides SDA, Drug Fight Malawi and Malawi Alcohol Policy Alliance (Mapa) are also involved in the fight against alcohol andrug abuse.