ALCOHOL accounts for more than 50% of HIV/Aids infections in Sub Saharan Africa, according to Kenyan Attorney General Amos Wako, who says medical and legal experts agree that alcohol reduces sexual inhibition and often results in unprotected sex.
Speaking at an alcohol policy workshop in Nairobi, Wako said he was concerned by children’s unlimited access to alcohol at certain outlets and warned that it was illegal to sell alcohol to people younger than 18 years. It is also illegal to drink in public.
He called upon alcohol licensing authorities to ensure that regulations were enforced.
He said a large number of children orphaned by Aids, street children or abused children had been exposed to alcohol and drug abuse.
“This does not only constitutes a social problem but also poses a security threat,” he observed.
Public health minister Prof Sam Ongeri told the workshop that a task force on alcohol policy would be formed.
Kenya has declared HIV/Aids a national disaster and Wako said his office would facilitate all relevant policies to ensure the implementation of an effective national strategic plan of HIV/Aids.
He said the government would provide direction in designing culturally, morally and scientifically accepted Aids programmes in order to protect the youth against the deadly disease.
“The government has already, through relevant ministries, introduced Aids education in schools,” he said.
Poverty reduction strategies have also been structured to address the link between unemployment, poverty and the vulnerability of youth to the disease. – African Eye News Service