The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Selebi-Phikwe, a mining town located in the north-east of Botswana, has declared war on alcoholism and called on the community to join in the fight, reports the Botswana Press Agency (BOPA).

The Adventist Church declared its fight against alcoholism, which seems to be joining HIV/AIDS in destroying our beloved nation, says an SDA youth member at the end of a march against the vice.
The SDA youth member, Keolebogile Mbulawa, said on behalf of the church that the march focused on alcohol because it was the most abused drug in society. People in our society of Selebi-Phikwe), seem to be taking this drug and its impact lightly some out of ignorance and some knowingly, Mbulawa said.

She said Adventists opposed alcohol because of its negative effects, like its impact on unborn babies. Alcoholism she said leads to children's starvation, industry leaders becoming beggars in the streets, wedding rings sold, girls becoming prostitutes, boys turning to crime and men and women committing suicide by hanging themselves.

Mbulawa said alcohol would always be poisonous to our bodies and will continue destroying our society, separating families and resulting in divorce cases.

It will leave us as orphans, motherless or fatherless. Alcohol will eat away our morality. It is therefore up to us to remove alcohol from our system, or else alcohol will remove a lot from our lives, she said.

She said at a time when large numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS are on anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy, the use of large quantities of alcohol would reverse governments efforts to provide treatment.

According to Mbulawa people should think of the children deprived of home comfort, education and further training opportunities due to alcohol.

Meanwhile, Kagiso/Sesame councillor Tebogo Matlhogonolo said the national leadership should acknowledge the Adventist Church's noble efforts and provide support because indeed alcohol is an enemy that can jeopardise lives. Councillor Matlhogonolo urged the Adventist Church to persevere in its commitment given the low community participation in the march.

Pastor Onalenna Balapi asked the towns leaders to create awareness through a similar activity. He said some children were denied education opportunities because their parents squandered money on alcohol.

Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a protestant mainstream denomination, try to live a healthy lifestyle as a mark of respect to the creator. Adventist Christians do not tend to drink alcohol or smoke.