Church Marches Against Alcohol, Drug Abuse

Alvine Kapitako

19 July 2011

Okahandja — The Okahandja Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, in partnership with the SDA Youth Federation and the International Commission on the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, on Saturday marched against alcohol and drug abuse at the town.

The parade started in the centre of town and proceeded to the Nau-Aib Stadium.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, the town’s mayor, David !Uri-#Khob, and the Okahandja Constituency Regional councillor, Steve Boois, took to the podium to talk to residents, mainly children and youth.

Kamwi, who quoted the World Health Organisation reports, said alcohol is a driver of HIV/AIDS in the world, including Namibia. It is destructive in terms of treatment for AIDS, TB and other chronic diseases, said Kamwi.

“It (alcohol) contributes to liver cirrhosis, lung and throat cancer, heart failure, delirium tremens, stomach ulcers, kidney and bladder problems,” said Kamwi.

He called on everyone to complement Government’s efforts in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse.

Boois said through collective efforts, hard work and perseverance, it is possible to fight the ills destroying the nation.

“It is shocking how families are breaking down daily and how the moral fibre of our society is declining at an alarming rate,” he said.

Detective Inspector Freddie Basson of the Namibian Police gave an overview of how drugs are smuggled into the country. He said foreigners that are mainly involved in the import of drugs use Namibians and Angolans to smuggle them in and warned Namibians to stop smuggling drugs into the country.

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