FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21st November 2024
The crucial role of journalists in helping tackle the dangers of illicit alcohol was highlighted at a media training workshop by Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol (CAIA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. The session was aimed to align with media professionals on the technical aspects relating to the clear and effective reporting on the harmful impacts of illicit alcohol in the country.
The session saw presentations and discussions on the types of illicit alcohol, differentiating between alcohols and correct reference terminology, giving participants access to expert resources and learning about the broader efforts undertaken by the Coalition.
The training underscored the critical role that media plays in promoting public awareness on social and socio-economic issues affecting the population. “Media plays a crucial role in disseminating information that reaches every corner of our society. This training is vital in ensuring that journalists are equipped with the facts around illicit alcohol and its impact to enable them to report with accuracy on issues that affect the wellbeing of our communities,” said Dr Christopher Kalila, CAIA Zambia chairperson.
Speaking at the workshop were field experts and partner representatives including: Prof. Fastone M. Goma BSc,MBChB,MSc,PhD,FRCPE – Professor of Psychology & Cadio vascular Health, Centre for Primary Care Research; Prof. Dhally Menda,MD,PhD – Director Health Programmes, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ); and Dr. W. Phiri – Chainama Health Hospital.
Illicit alcohol – the most commonly known and harmful ones being ‘junta’ and ‘tujilijili’ – poses a serious threat to public health as they are unregulated and contain unknown ingredients in unspecified quantities that endanger the lives of its consumers. This illegal market undermines government revenue (which hampers the government’s ability to allocate resources effectively, impacting notably education, infrastructure, healthcare etc.) and contributes to a range of health issues and social problems.
The workshop marked an important milestone in the CAIA’s mission of addressing issues of illicit by leveraging the collaborative strengths and resources of stakeholders across sectors. Its multi-pronged approach involves government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector, and the media in their capacity as a link to the public, working together to address this critical issue.