Malawi, Norway agree to control alcohol, drug abuses

Malawi and Norway, through its international developmental nongovernmental organisation called FORUT, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) where FORUT will provide technical aid to implementing programmes that would prevent and control alcohol and drug abuse in the country for five years.

Speaking in the capital Lilongwe, Forut Secretary General Morton Lonstard said addressing alcohol and drug abuses as a development issue was a strong commitment of his organisation in developing countries like Malawi.

\"We are very much concerned about alcohol and drugs in the development work of the countries, hence the assistance to prevent the malpractice,\" he said.

He added that the FORUT’s aim was to build networks where ideas, experience and knowledge on preventive strategies could be exposed and developed further.

In Malawi the experts will bring in experience, knowledge, methodology and strategies in order to develop local strategies and action plan, Lonstard said.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga said Malawi was one of the countries in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region faced with serious drug production, abuse and trafficking.

\"The problem is very serious in Malawi such that high number of road accidents, child abuse and gender based violence in the country are done under the influence of alcohol and drug abuses,\" he said.

Therefore, he said, there was need for a multi-sectoral approach by government, civil society and developing partners to work together to prevent and control the production, abuse and trafficking.