21 May 2017

A public health expert, Dr Malebogo Pusoentsi, has urged the public to stop alcohol and drug abuse.

Dr Pusoentsi, who was speaking at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church health seminar to sensitise the community about alcohol and drug abuse, said the abuse hampered productivity as alcoholics were not delivering.

“We know of people who have developed the habit of frequenting our health facilities on Mondays and Fridays looking for sick leave as a result of alcohol abuse,” said Dr Pusoentsi who is also the head of the District Health Management Team in Ngamiland.

She said it was possible to halt the abuse of alcohol and drugs and to live a clean life, adding that the benefits of staying free from the substances far outweighed those of consuming them.

Dr Pusoentsi noted that most deaths around the globe were caused by the abuse of alcohol and drugs. She said statistics show that 25 per cent of deaths were of people between 25-39 years as a consequence of binge drinking.

Dr Pusoentsi said a study carried out in 2014 showed that 26 per cent of people who were between 16-64 years were daily drinkers while 18.5 per cent of the group was heavy drinkers.

Furthermore, she said there was a link between the spread of HIV and the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Dr Pusoentsi also noted that alcohol abuse caused non communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer amongst others.

She stated that alcohol and drugs were the leading causes of poverty in Botswana. “As health professionals, we are the last stop therefore we witness the results of alcohol and drugs,” she said, adding that the majority of accidents and mental cases were linked to the abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Dr Pusoentsi also noted alcohol was accepted in the community and that it was even used by some sections of society in their rituals.

She said patients tell them that their uncles had been drinking for extended periods of time, and that they lived longer every time they tried to advise them against the abuse of alcohol.

Dr Pusoentsi said it was important for churches to detect the abuse of alcohol in the community and come up with strategies on how to assist in the fight against the scourge.

“It is not enough to say we will pray as God has also given humanity the strength to think and make decisions,” she observed. Dr Pusoentsi also warned parents that children were like sponges as they absorbed everything they saw their parents doing, adding that it was important for parents to act as good role models.

The assistant district commissioner for Maun Administrative Authority, Mr Ramogapi Gaborekwe commended the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for being a development partner with the government.

“As some of you may recall, this church runs many institutions like the Kanye hospital and Kanye College of Nursing, a health centre in Moshupa, Botswana Adventist Medical Services (BAMS) and the Mogoditshane wellness and counselling centre, which are health and helping institutions,” he said.

“These were all designed to reach out and build a complete person not just physically but mentally, spiritually and emotionally,” he said.

Out of deep concern for humanity, Mr Gaborekwe said the church has developed worldwide health care to alleviate sickness and suffering. He said the objective of the Adventist mission was not only physical healing, but also the promotion of physical, mental, social and spiritual wellness of the person.

Mr Gaborekwe expressed gratitude to the church for the generous contribution it continued to make to the growth and development of the nation.  ENDS