Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Alcohol: a key determinant for ill health and an obstacle to development




In 2000, world leaders promised to halve extreme poverty by 2015 with a global plan called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs set clear targets for the development agenda, but 2015 is coming closer. Yet, 1.4 billion people still live in extreme poverty. New development targets are needed. Already there are formal and informal processes running in this process. A platform for consultation on the role of health in the post-2015 development agenda is co-convened by WHO and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Government of Sweden and the Government of Botswana. On the online consultation more than 100 papers were submitted from individuals, UN organizations, governments, research centers and civil society organizations.

In a paper contributed to the consultation the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) point out that alcohol is a risk factor for ill-health and should be included in the development agenda.The MDGs state that health is critical to the economic, political and social development of all countries. The health-related MDGs focus on reducing child mortality (no. 4), improving maternal health (no. 5), and combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (no. 6), but do not capture the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  > > > >  Read More