Nacada formulates hygienic chang'aa

ANTI-DRUGS watchdog Nacada is formulating new quality standards for the production of chang'aa. The new standards will conform with the new Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010 popularly known as Mututho laws.
         Nacada boss Aggrey Busena says the process of formulating the new quality standards is in its final stages and would be made public soon.
The new standards will help regulate the manufacture, marketing and consumption of chang'aa, an illicit traditional brew. The Nacada boss said the brew will now be licensed under the new Mututho laws on condition that it's manufactured following the recommended standards.
          Busena said Nacada will ensure the new laws on alcohol are strictly implemented so that Kenyans do not continue to suffer because of careless drinking of alcohol.
          He made the remarks at Moi University School of Medicine in Eldoret during the 26th General Assembly of African Medical Students Association.
          The new laws have started showing positive signs as people who previously drunk a lot are now engaging in development activities, said Busena.
         He said the reduced drinking hours had prevented school children from engaging in drinking. Busena said Nacada had received adequate funding from the government and was aggressively engaged in fighting the abuse of alcohol and drugs.
      The one-day forum whose theme was, The Burden of Chronic Disease in Africa was also addressed by Dr Frank Njenga who is president of the African Association of Psychiatrists and Professor J. Aluoch, one of the founders of the Medicine Maseno University school.
        Njenga told the forum that most countries suffer an acute shortage of psychiatrists. He said, however, Kenya was training many psychiatrists. Workshops have been held to train more than 4,000 medical personnel to handle psychiatric cases at community level.