A Rwandan doctor has urged people who drink alcohol to reduce their consumption or quit, stressing that the human body does not need alcohol to function properly.
Dr Eric Runyambo of Kibagabaga Hospital said the body requires essential substances such as oxygen, water, nutrients, vitamins and energy, but alcohol is not among them.
“Our bodies do not need alcohol. We need oxygen, water, nutrients that build the body, protective nutrients and sources of energy,” Runyambo said.
He urged people who do not drink alcohol not to start drinking under the belief that it provides health benefits.
For those who already drink, Runyambo encouraged them to reduce their consumption and avoid developing dependence on alcohol.
“If you do not drink, stay away from it. If you drink, do so sparingly so that you do not reach a point where your body can only function after getting alcohol,” he said.
Alcohol risks extend beyond physical health
Runyambo warned that excessive alcohol consumption can affect more than a person’s physical health, with potential consequences for their finances and relationships.
“Alcohol is not necessary in life. It can destroy your life in different ways, including financially, through illness and through your relationships with other people,” he said.
The doctor’s warning is consistent with guidance from the World Health Organization, which says alcohol consumption carries health risks even at low levels, while the greatest harms are associated with heavy episodic or continuous drinking.
WHO describes alcohol as a toxic, psychoactive and dependence-producing substance and says its consumption is causally linked to more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions, including liver disease, cardiovascular diseases and several cancers.
The global health agency also says there is no form of alcohol consumption that is completely risk-free, with the level of risk generally increasing as the amount and frequency of drinking rise.
Runyambo’s advice therefore centres on prevention: people who do not drink should not begin, while those who drink should consider reducing their consumption or stopping altogether to lower the potential health and social harms associated with alcohol.
