Health professionals in Rwanda have expressed concerns over the rising number of individuals consuming alcohol in the country.
A recent survey conducted by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) revealed that alcohol consumption has increased from 41 percent in 2013 to 48 percent in 2022.
The survey, which aimed to gather data on risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), involved face-to-face interviews and physical and biochemical measurements from 5,676 individuals aged between 18 and 69 across all four provinces of Rwanda.
Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana took to Twitter to share some of the survey’s findings, emphasizing the need to reverse the trend of alcohol consumption in Rwanda. He warned that excessive alcohol intake is associated with NCDs, including certain types of cancer.
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The survey also reported a decrease in heavy episodic drinking from 23.5 percent in 2013 to 15.2 percent in 2022.
However, Dr. Francois Uwinkindi, head of the NCDs Division at RBC, stressed the importance of further reduction in heavy drinking as the country combats NCDs. He proposed the implementation of new regulations on alcohol consumption and increased public awareness.
A recent publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) linked alcohol consumption to various types of cancer, including bowel cancer and female breast cancer.
Albert Tuyishime, a medical doctor and epidemiologist, called for more public awareness campaigns to empower individuals to make informed choices.
He also highlighted the need for further research to understand the factors contributing to higher rates of heavy drinking in specific regions, enabling targeted interventions.
Among the provinces, the Western province had the highest rate of heavy alcohol drinking, followed by the Northern province, the Southern province, the Eastern province, and Kigali with the lowest rate.
