[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century, in terms of both the human suffering they cause and the harm they inflict on the socioeconomic fabric of countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries. No government can afford to ignore the rising burden of NCDs. In the absence of evidence-based actions, the human, social and economic costs of NCDs will continue to grow and overwhelm the capacity of countries to address them.
Recognizing the devastating social, economic and public health impact of NCDs, in September 2011, world leaders adopted a political declaration containing strong commitments to address the global burden of NCDs and gave several assignments to the World Health Organization (WHO) to help support country eff orts. One of them was the development of the WHO Global action plan for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020 (known as the Global NCD Action Plan), including nine voluntary global targets and a global monitoring framework. Th e Global NCD Action Plan and the voluntary global targets were adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2013.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Download Now” color=”primary” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sancda.org.za%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F06%2F2014-WHO-Global-Status-Report-on-NCDs-3.pdf|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the report confirms high levels of alcohol abuse but also positive policy moves spearheaded by the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee.
According to the report, South Africa ranks among Africa’s top four countries in terms of litres of alcohol consumed annually. The average South Africa over the age of 15 years drinks at least ten litres of pure alcohol a year. About half of all alcohol consumed in the country is comprised of beer, while the rest is almost equally distributed between spirits, wine and other alcohol.
About 30 percent of male drinkers and 14 percent of female drinkers report at lease one episode of binge drinking in the last month.
Harmful drinking habits have cost the country nearly R 300 billion, according to the report released on 12 May.
However, the report also highlights positive moves by government to curb dangerous drinking including the 2010 establishment of a dedicated
Inter-Ministerial Committee and draft legislation to ban alcohol advertising.
Download the full report: WHO Global status report on alcohol and health 2014
Source: Health-e News
Written comments by 30 June 2014 to Riaan Labuschagne
The proposals in the discussion paper are part of a package of measures (financial and non-financial) aimed at addressing the negative externalities associated with alcohol and encouraging a more responsible approach to the use of alcohol. Such measures include excise duties on alcoholic beverages, limits on the drinking age, restrictions on liquor trading hours, restrictions on alcohol advertising, education targeted at the youth and other groups at risk (e.g. pregnant women), better enforcement of laws and regulations to combat alcohol abuse and illicit trade, and higher penalties for drinking and driving.
Download the full document here: Alcohol tax discussion paper by National Treasury – make a comment
Written comments by 30 June 2014 to Riaan Labuschagne
The proposals in the discussion paper are part of a package of measures (financial and non-financial) aimed at addressing the negative externalities associated with alcohol and encouraging a more responsible approach to the use of alcohol. Such measures include excise duties on alcoholic beverages, limits on the drinking age, restrictions on liquor trading hours, restrictions on alcohol advertising, education targeted at the youth and other groups at risk (e.g. pregnant women), better enforcement of laws and regulations to combat alcohol abuse and illicit trade, and higher penalties for drinking and driving.
Download the full document here: Alcohol tax discussion paper by National Treasury – make a comment
The SA NCD Alliance and 100 stakeholders agreed to a short-term action plan. The main points of agreement are listed below but without suggesting which one is most important.
- Support the National NCDs Plan but to hold government accountable
- Collaborate to fight NCDs (within and across sectors) in the NCDs Multisectoral Working Group (nMWG)
- SA NCD Alliance to be the lead organisation in the fight against the NCDs
- Strengthen national NCDs research agenda and capacity
- Use the national civil society non-communcable disease report as a NCDs advocacy tool
- Unrelenting action to strengthen NCDs systems culminating in a stakeholder meeting in August 2014
Read the finer details and see the process that we used to come to this action plan NCDs PRIORITIES FOR ACTION may 2014 final
