The goinghomedotcom Trust a charitable organisation registered in Kenya has since 2001 when I wrote my first article on the subject of alcoholism in the Daily Nation been trying to create awareness on dangers in injudicious alcohol consumption as well as the disease of alcoholism. The Trust also creates awareness on tobacco and other drugs as well as connection between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS

My wife Eileen Mlamba-Ogot and I, have no funds or sponsors yet since our only agenda is to pass the message we have been soldiering on, on a wing and a prayer. What we have achieved thus far is:

• Published a massive website on alcoholism and other drug abuse www.goinghomedotcom.org with free access to members of the public, journalists and families who are suffering
• A Resource center for drug abuse I.E.C materials open to the public for a token fee at our offices in Hurlingham
• Produced a 40 minute video (the first in a series) on alcoholism which has been aired twice on Citizen T.V (2002 & 2003)
• Constant stream of awareness in various newspapers and magazines as well as appearances on TV and talks on radio to show families how to deal with alcoholism and other drug addiction
• Free counseling for families with addicts at our offices in Hurlingham seeing several clients a week
• Talks in schools, churches and other institutions all over Kenya on drugs and drug abuse.

Two books on the drug situation in Kenya are nearing completion. Yet all this without much help even from bodies which are allegedly meant to be helping not only the campaign but campaigners.

Others also seem to be looking for a catch as to why we do this, yet there is no catch. As a recovering alcoholic all I want to do is pass on the message using my profession as a journalist and producer as a platform. It is a way of giving back to society.

My wife Eileen everyday sees families in the throes of denial with their addicted loved ones and so prolonging their agony. Having gone through this pain herself she tries to help these families with her experiences.

It is from this realisation of the general ignorance of Kenyans over drug addiction and alcoholism in particular that goinghomedotcom Trust came up with the National Alcohol Awareness Month which will be inaugurated from October 1 this year and henceforth to run in October every year.

During this month there will be various activities running through the month to demystify alcoholism and explain that it is a disease. People are running around in circles and falling victim to charlatans simply because they do not know what the problem is, what to do and where to go.

It is also during this month Kenyans will also be sensitized on the drug alcohol, its effects, safe drinking levels and all aspects of this drug for it will always be with us and the best that we can do is tame it, domesticate it so that it works for us not against us.

The theme for this years first National Alcohol Awareness Month is “Alcohol and HIV/AIDS” there will be a series of articles in the various print media and several monthly publications as well as talks on various programmes and call in shows on radio and TV to help families see the connection between alcohol consumption not excess but how any uninformed consumption can lead to HIV/AIDS.

I have worn these T-shirts whether I am not leaving my house, through rain and cold spells and no matter what function I was attending. On Saturday 2nd October I will start a second year if there are enough pledges this time round so that I need some much needed cash to keep the Trust going.

David Ogot snr.
Director,
goinghomedotcom Trust,