A Long Term Plan For The Fight Against Qat [Archives:1999/47/Health]

B. Samuel Jeremy
Kuwait Hospital
On my first day in the Land of Yemen I saw a swelling in my neighbor’s mouth which I thought was due to a toothache. As I saw many people with the same swelling I learned that they were chewing qat and the swelling was due to qat.
As the days passed by I was interested to see that most Yemenis had the habit of chewing qat, and I made a small study about qat chewing. I would like to write about this in my article.
I would like to say that I’ve not yet tried qat, but my neighbors often invite me to join them for a qat session and they would say that I could see India if I chewed. I have never been interested because I am worried that I would become addicted. Qat is classified as a narcotic in many countries and its addiction in Yemen is killing the country’s economy, health and its betterment.
To stop this menace a systematic approach has to be sincerely adopted and implemented. First of all I would like to congratulate our beloved President Ali Abdullah Saleh for his firm steps and efforts to stop chewing qat by Yemeni people and also his personal decision to stop chewing qat. Constructive and bold steps like passing a government order stating that uniformed civil servants such as police and military personnel may not chew qat during duty hours is to be welcomed. The decision of Captain Abdul Khaleq Al-Kadi, the Chairman of Yemenia, to ban chewing qat on all domestic and international flights is a very positive step. The systematic approach can be done in three steps.
The First Step is to invoke social awareness.
I would like to say that almost all Yemenis feel that chewing qat is good. I was very much worried when I heard that qat sessions are organized when somebody dies. Its shows how deep-rooted this evil is. People should be made aware that qat is bad physically and mentally. Nobody can prove that it is not as bad as other narcotic drugs. Everybody should understand that serving and obeying God is the first responsibility of life. After that he has an equal responsibility to serve his family. Anything that distracts from doing this is a sin. Definitely qat distracts a lot. Chewing qat is a sin.
An effective campaign should be done by mass media such as newspapers, television and radio.
Putting up wall posters and displaying placards in public places will also be very effective. Above all, a very important thing is that great care should be taken to see that our younger generation does not get this addiction. In regard to this a campaign should be initiated in schools, colleges and universities.
Parents should not encourage their children to chew qat. If we don’t do it today, tomorrow may be too late.
The Second Step is implementation of strict rules.
In this regard I feel that the government is moving in the right direction. Non-governmental and private organizations should take an active part in this by implementing strict rules in their areas of work. Companies and private firms should not organize qat sessions, and time should not be given for chewing qat. The heads of companies should be role models.
The Third Step is taxing the growing and selling of qat.
I was happy to see the data that you published about the amount of money and time spent on qat by Yemenis. As I said earlier the results of my study were similar to those of yours. I talked to a Yemeni friend of mine about the money wasted on qat. I told him that if this money went to the government it would be a huge source of revenue for the government. My friend agreed that a huge amount of money is wasted on qat, but he asked me if the government asked people to stop chewing qat, would they stop chewing and give the money they saved to the government? He also said that it was his money, and he was spending it as he wished. This is the thinking and view of many Yemenis. I would like to say that if the money is passed from one individual to another individual it does not reach the government. The government does not have any stake in it. There are many ways that the government can make a lot of revenue out of it.
1. Registration of Qat fields
A strict law should be passed that all qat fields should be registered under a central authority.
2. Taxing of Qat Fields.
Taxes should be levied on qat farmers according to the area of their plantations.
3. Registering and issuing licenses to qat selling shops.
The shops selling qat should be registered and issued with licenses. Fees such as a registration fee and a license fee should be collected from shops. The shops should maintain all records of purchases and sales which should be ready for inspection at any time. Taxes based on sales tax should be collected. Vigilant and honest government officials should monitor the whole process.
CONCLUSION
If these measures are implemented and monitored properly then there is a “RAY OF HOPE.” I hope the concerned authorities will take note of it and take necessary action.
——
[archive-e:47-v:1999-y:1999-d:1999-11-22-p:./1999/iss47/health.htm]