KENYA – The Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) through its DRINKiQ platform has donated Ksh 2 million (US$18,250) to the National Youth Council in Kenya to support mental health awareness campaign.
Diageo uses its branded responsible drinking platform DRINKiQ, to engage, inform and educate people on responsible alcohol consumption.
According the subsidiary of East African Breweries Limited (EABL), the campaign aims to champion responsible drinking and moderation while discouraging harmful consumption of alcohol.
KBL’s contribution is timely as the Kenya’s Ministry of Health estimates that one in every 10 people suffer from a common mental disorder. The number increases to one in every four people among patients attending routine outpatient services.
Depression and anxiety disorders are the leading mental illnesses diagnosed in Kenya, followed by substance use disorders.
Among the different types of substances, alcohol contributes to the largest burden of substance use related illnesses in the country and of great concern is that alcohol abuse is most prevalent in the 18-29-year-old age group.
Being a menace that is not only common in Kenya but across the globe, Diageo, parent company of EABL, uses its branded responsible drinking platform DRINKiQ, to engage, inform and educate people, equipping them to make responsible decisions about their alcohol consumption.
The new mobile-friendly online tool, the first of its kind in the alcohol industry, is used by all Diageo’s subsidiaries worldwide to advocate for responsible alcohol consumption.
Other than supporting the mental health awareness campaign, KBL has partnered with National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to educate and sensitize road users on responsible drinking in order to enhance road safety in Kenya.
The partnership involves the adoption of a Responsible Drinking Education Module, to complement the curriculum for training and testing of Drivers and Instructors.
UBL partners Nile Breweries in fight against COVID-19
Meanwhile, its sister company in Uganda, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has collaborated with industry peer Nile Breweries Limited, contributing UGX 60 million (US$16,370) worth of medical equipment for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The support is in response to the government of Uganda’s call for the private sector to support in the fight against COVID 19.
The contribution according to EABL was handed over to Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, intended to bolster the hospital’s medical response capacity.
It will also supplement government’s effort to improve the quality of health services in hospitals and health facilities by availing modern and state of the art medical equipment.
“We continue to support all efforts to bring the COVID pandemic under control across our country. We are proud to do what we can as we know we are stronger together and that we will emerge stronger,” indicated UBL on a linked post.
This is an added contribution as UBL has earlier last year donated UGX 120 million (US$32,740) worth of fuel to the Ministry of Health to support their efforts towards the coronavirus fight, in partnership with Total Uganda and Stanbic bank.
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