Rehab camps for liquor addicts in each district

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Cause for NCDs

* Alcohol and smoking

* Consuming food with excessive fats, salt and sugar

* Sedentary lifestyles

Arrangements are in place to establish rehabilitation camps for persons addicted to alcohol and smoking islandwide. Each district will have one rehabilitation camp, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. The Health Ministry is drawing up plans to identify persons addicted to alcohol and tobacco smoking and rehabilitate these persons to cure them of such addictions, he added. Health Ministry reports said around 350 persons die daily from Non Communicable Diseases - 150 from heart attacks.

Around 40 to 50 persons die from strokes and diabetes while high blood pressure, cancer and kidney disease kill another 150 persons daily.

Around 60 percent out of the total cancer patients at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital have become victims of such diseases due to alcohol and smoking. Alcohol and smoking are the main reasons for a majority of Non Communicable Diseases, Minister Sirisena said. Consuming foods with excessive fats, salt and sugar and sedentary lifestyles, also cause Non Communicable Diseases, he said.

“Rural folk have also become victims of Non Communicable Diseases though they engage in strenuous chores, due to addiction to tobacco and alcohol,” the minister said.

In addition, liquor addiction also leads to social problems such as poverty and family breakdown, he said. The government spends around Rs 5,000 million annually to treat patients suffering from Non Communicable Diseases, the minister said.

The Health Ministry had taken measures to establish rehabilitation camps throughout the country to provide relief to addicts.