Harmful alcohol consumption hinders social progress

On Wednesday 23 September the Swedish Presidency, in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, and cosponsored by the World Health Organization, conducted a Global Expert Meeting on Alcohol, Health and Social Development. “Sweden wants to contribute increased knowledge about the role of harmful alcohol consumption in low- and middle-income countries,” said Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson. “We want to contribute more knowledge about the connection between harmful use, poverty, social exclusion, the spread of communicable diseases and socioeconomic development.”

The Global Expert Conference made up the third day of the events focusing on alcohol and health that the Swedish Presidency had gathered together over the three-day period from 21 to 23 September. Apart from alcohol and health issues, the Global Meeting also covered the issue of social development.

“Discussions on a global alcohol strategy have drawn attention to the fact that not all countries have a well-developed public health infrastructure and a strong welfare sector, as we do in the Nordic countries, for instance,” said Ms Larsson. “Obviously there is a strong need to give more attention to the needs and special conditions of non-western countries, so as to support these countries in their efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Developing countries seek advice and assistance

Dr Ala Alwan, Assistant Director- General of the World Health Organization, also took part in the opening ceremony of the event. “Non-communicable diseases and their risk factors – including harmful alcohol consumption – are a global challenge,” said Dr Alwan. “Low- and middleincome countries want technical advice and assistance in their fight against such risk factors. In 2010 the World Health Organization will present its global status report on trends and risk factors. We have noted that there has been considerable development in this area recently.”

Connection between harmful alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted diseases

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), spoke about the relationship between harmful use of alcohol and infectious diseases.

“The relationship has previously been underestimated,” said Dr Jakab. “But there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and chlamydia.”

Professor Jürgen Rehm, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada and Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, also highlighted the relationship between harmful alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted diseases.

“The probability of successful treatment for HIV is lessened if the patient consumes alcohol in a harmful way,” said Professor Rehm.

Professor Rehm is also principal author of the report presented at the Global Expert Meeting on Alcohol, Health and Social Development.