San Chief fed-up with ‘Kaalgat’

CLOSE involvement with the community is needed to tackle chronic alcohol abuse, Omaheke Regional Health Director Peter Angala said yesterday.

Angala was responding to the plea of Sangiro Ubi-Kanguatjivi, the Chief of the San community in the Epukiro constituency, to Nampa to ban ‘Kaalgat’ in his constituency, as it contributes to poverty and violence. The Chief told Nampa that ‘his people are spending most of their time in drinking outlets without participating in development projects’.A ban of ‘Kaalgat’ in the Otjinene constituency last year led to more productivity and less violence, according to Angala. Angala said that it was his responsibility to help Epukiro reach their goal, but that ‘close involvement is the key, in order for them to realise the benefits’.A social worker said that the ban only worked because the community ‘took a stand’.Angala agreed that cheap alcohol had a detrimental effect on the economic and social well-being of many of the region’s communities, especially in areas ‘where the majority of the San live’.Kaalgat is a cheap white wine that is sold at affordable prices in bottle stores.Twenty-five litres sell for N$259.95 in Windhoek, while 500 ml costs N$9.50 and a litre costs N$14.95. Angala acknowledged that alcohol abuse couldn’t be stopped by the ban, although the problem was reduced because many in the poverty-stricken area were limited by their income. ‘Income determines what they can afford,’ he said. A volunteer who regularly works at the health clinic in Epukiro said that most problems in the area, including malnourishment, child and woman abuse and unemployment, can be traced back to alcohol abuse. ‘Alcohol is easily available in these areas,’ she said.Angala said statistics showed that since the ban in Otjinene, production had increased and violence and trauma cases at the local clinic had decreased.