A JOINT initiative between the Eastern Cape Liquor Board and Eastcape Midlands TVET College saw the induction and handing over of certificates to the college’s Ambassadors of the Harm Reduction Programme started by the Eastern Cape Liquor Board CEO, Doctor Nombuyiselo Makala.
According to Makala, they started this programme at high school level, and then there were some higher education level institutions that were interested in the programme which invited them to implement it at their institutions owing to the number of the challenges that they faced regarding alcohol abuse.
“We faced challenges of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with institutions of higher learning. We met with the management of Eastcape Midlands in June, and we were pleasantly surprised that by August, we signed a MOU, which shows the commitment this institution has towards this programme,” said Makala.
“We have recruited 17 students as our facilitators from various campuses,” she added.
The Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC, Mlungisi Mvoko said, “Part of us dealing with alcohol abuse is monitoring the outlets that are selling alcohol, like the times they trade, whether they have a licence, etc.
“The Eastern Cape Liquor Board has a responsibility to ensure that they adhere to the regulations. We have also partnered with SAPS to ensure that they work with our liquor board in curbing the scourge of alcohol abuse. We introduced this peer learning exercise programme of students chosen by the institution so that we can train these students and teach them about alcohol and the abuse thereof,” he added.
Mvoko emphasised that the message that they are trying to spread is not that students should not drink, but that they should do so responsibly.
Qhama Memani, the Project Facilitator at Eastcape Midlands working for the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, said that she hopes to see the youth carry themselves with a bit more dignity and to drink responsibly.
“Excessive use of alcohol can result in teenage pregnancies and increase in crime. One needs to look after oneself,” she said.
“The challenge I have seen so far with regard to this initiative is that students did not really take the issue of alcohol abuse and its consequences seriously, because some think that the fun trumps the risks. It has a major impact on your life, depending on how you consume it.
“I aim to spread the message by doing activities that will engage the students instead of talking to them, because that might put them off before getting my point across,” said Memani.
