The numbers of people dying of acute alcohol poisoning, especially from improperly distilled local gin is increasing by day. According to media reports, 26 people from Kampala and Wakiso districts reportedly died in a space of just one week!

Latest report indicate that seven more people have died and 11 left blind.

This however is not new. The Daily Monitor of September 24 reported that 40 deaths were reported in 2006 and 49 in 2007 due to consumption of alcohol containing methanol- a volatile inflammable liquid hydrocarbon. Many survivors have sustained lifelong bodily injuries like blindness. And yet, many fatalities especially from upcountry go unreported.

It is difficult to establish whether the government's initial intervention to ban the alcohol sachets has had any impact. Since the beginning of September when the Minister of Health made the announcement, death reports have continued as alcohol sellers have seemingly defied the directive. The situation has not been helped by MPs' failure to endorse the by-law. Save for a few places like Nakawa Division, enforcement seems not to have come with the necessary vigilance. In the past, we have seen the government bending backwards in the name of protecting its citizens. No matter where the critics come from, where there has been government will, things have happened. So what has become of the Minister's directive to ban sachet waragi? With over 150 deaths reported over the past three years and other causalities in hundreds, how many more should die before the government gives this issue a serious look? Yes, we have seen the Minister of Health and other officials visit the affected areas but is this enough?

Supposing the producers and sellers had heeded the government's ban on waragi sachets (like a few claim to have done), would the problem have been solved? My take is a big NO! A ban does not address the root cause of the problem because the producers can easily find alternative ways of packaging 'bad' alcohol. A rapid response is needed to save lives. We need short-term interventions to stop the deaths and long-term plans to avoid similar occurrences.

Since desperate situations call for desperate solutions, the government should seriously think of a temporary ban on advertising, production and sale of local gin. This may sound extreme, but can save lives. We also need to sensitise the masses about the dangers of abusing alcohol. Lasting solutions lie in a comprehensive legal framework, to sanction supply, conducting massive awareness campaign to reduce demand and a well programmed mitigation strategy to help the affected.

The National Alcohol Policy should be fast tracked and the Bill on Alcohol and Substance Use and Abuse is long overdue. The law must highlight strict measures to govern production, sale, possession and promotion and consumption of alcohol. Health warnings on the labels advertising alcohol must be in the same size and fonts as the brand names. A statutory body/authority shall be needed to ensure implementation of the law.

Mr Kalema is the director, Serenity Centre