LCC fights drink driving, lifestyle diseases

Nancy Siame

Originally featured in Zambia Daily Mail: http://bit.ly/2v4WaOi

THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has raised US$100,000 to help in the global fight against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries in the capital city between now and next year.

Lusaka mayor Wilson Kalumba said in a statement yesterday that Lusaka has since joined a global effort to build healthier communities by reducing NCDs and injuries by 2018.

Mr Kalumba said the funds will be spent on buying breathalysers and offering technical assistance to the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and traffic police to support their efforts in combating drink driving.

He said the partnership for healthy cities supported by Michael Bloomberg, the World Health Organisation (WHO) global ambassador for NDCs, brings together cities around the world to take proven steps to reduce NDCs and injuries and improve living and working environments for citizens.

“In Lusaka, 34 percent of deaths every year are attributable to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases and injuries as a result of road-traffic accidents,” Mr Kalumba said.

Mr Kalumba said as part of this initiative, LCC will focus on reducing drink driving which is one of the10 interventions identified by WHO as an effective way of protecting people from noncommunicable diseases and injuries.

“As a strong and vibrant city, we are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against NDCs and injuries,” he said.

He said the initiative will help Lusaka take bold steps to help citizens live healthier, longer lives and reduce the economic toll these diseases and injuries take on the city.