Sometime ago you will find a very famous little poster hanging in many offices in Juba. I used to have one in my little shack too. It is the one about alcohol drinking. It is called “I am call alcohol” or something like that. The little posters say “I” kill and do all sorts of things: breaking up families, destroying jobs, etc. It is no longer to be found in Juba, or the ones that are present, probably hidden somewhere collecting dust.
Just afew days back my next door neighbour was found dead in his house. Friends say he had been drinking all the hight before. And the diagnosis: “ketuk”! Last week another guy was brought into my clinic, very sick, with signs of liver failure. He had a very long history of drinking.
There are many stories in Juba in the past, with very similar endings, like people being found dead under trees. Now the phenomenon has gone up several scales for the worse. Many people are talikg about the epidemic of drinking in Juba, but nobody cares to do anything about it. The unfortunate thing is that people continue to drink during working hours, in the offices.
Moderation is the key. When alcohol consumption begins to interfere with your life, know that you are on the way down. With bars springing up in every corner of town, regulating it will be a tough job. I believe we have other pressing matters to deal with, but it is clear that the effects are being stored for a life time of troubles. A public health disater.
I think I will look for that poster again and hang it on the wall in my clinic. It will be a small step, but I know my patients will read it.
Just the other day . . . (sorry folks, will tell you later!)
I’m just dropping this line to tell ya that your blog is indeed interesting. I am a Sudanese teenager whom was grown up not too far away from Sudan; Sultanate of Oman, and I’m still living in Oman.
Anyways, I like your clinic stories and how you’re trying to show people outside Sudan how do people live in Sudan and how is life in side Sudan like. It would be much more interesting if you provided your posts with pictures.
Keep updating your blog.
Yours,
Amjad
Comment by Amjad — July 29, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Welcome, Amjad. Am still learning the ropes here. You can see that the blog looks real empty. When I learn the tricks, I will certainly do. Keep looking.
Comment by Dr. K. K. — July 29, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
[...] a Southern Sudanese doctor in South Sudan wrote about the problem of alcoholism there: Just a few days back my next door neighbour was found dead in his house. Friends say he had been [...]
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