Tobacco.org

RAID Workshop Validates Tobacco Control Action-Plan  

SIDIA JATTA ON THE ANTI-SMOKING ACT 

In his contribution to the Adjournment Debate at the National Assembly on Thursday, the National Assembly member for Wuli West, Hon Sidia Jatta said the member for Upper Niumi, Mam Cherno Jallow, has raised a concern and his concern is the impossibility of enforcing the legislation enacted by the Parliament and he cited the famous Act which was a private member's bill which was seconded twice.

Sidia said the member for Upper Niumi was wondering whether the National Assembly needed a consultant to find out why it is evidently impossible for legislations to be enforced particularly the anti-smoking Act cited by him.

Sidia argued that they do not need a consultant for this, adding Honourable Mam Cherno Jallow himself, is a consultant, he knows why legislations are not enforceable or are not enforced, including the one in particular cited by him. . . .

The Wuli West NAM pointed out that as he was getting in the Chamber, somebody was smoking in their resource centre. He said if those that made the laws disrespect the laws, how they can complain about the lack of enforcement.

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Gambia: Youths Speak up Against Drug Abuse 

West Africa has been described as the drug trafficking hub of the world. Almost a year ago, over two tonnes of cocaine valued at US$1 billion was seized by Gambia law enforcement agencies in addition to firearms and large stashes of money. Since then, the youth have risen up to speak out against this practice and its effects in their society.

In April 2011, thirty youth leaders were trained by Ignatus Worldwide Network and empowered to use their skills to prevent drug abuse and violence in their communities. But they have not been the only ones who have stayed engaged. . . .

5) Parents and schools to implement no smoking strategies in homes and schools.

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Tobacco Remains Leading Cause Of Diseases; Say Director, Dr. Luis G. Sambo  

The World Health Regional Director, Dr Luis G. Sambo has said that Tobacco use remain the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death. He said Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer, 70% of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and 25% of ischemic heart disease. This message was delivered on the World No Tobacco Day.

He Said money spent on tobacco can be better spent on vital needs such as shelter, education and food. He said the economic impact of disability, lost productivity and early deaths due to tobacco has contribute to the burden of poverty, retarding national development and further widening health inequities. "Tobacco control is not only a public health priority but also a key development issue", he said

He stated that the theme for 'World No Tobacco Day' this year is: "The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control".

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Rate of cigarette abuse alarming-WHO REP 

The World Health Organization in collaboration with Africada International joined 197 countries worldwide to celebrate the No Tobacco Day in The Gambia. This event was held at the Daddy Jobe Comprehensive School campus yesterday.

In celebrating this event, the World Health Organization officials told the gathering the numbers of cigarette smokers in the world is alarming due to the increasing of young men and women.

Speaking at the occasion, Momodou Gassama, health promotion officer World Health Organization country office disclosed that tobacco kills up to half of its users, adding that tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people per year. . . .

According to Mr. Gassama second-hand smoke kills. He said that only 54% of people are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws. He said in 2008, the number of people protected from secondhand smoke increased by 74% to 362 million from 208 million in 2007 . He said that of the 100 most populated cities, 22 are smoke free, adding that almost half of children regularly breath air polluted by tobacco smoke. He added that over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent, second-hand smoke causes more than 600, 000 premature deaths per year.

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Gambia enforces anti-tobacco law from 1 Oct 

yman Secka, the Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police Force, said from 1 October, the country’s various security agencies would jointly start implementing the anti-public smoking act, PANA reported from here Thursday. . . .

Even though the law was passed over a decade ago, it is yet to be implemented and many people continue to openly puff tobacco products about in many public places like schools, cars and markets in the Gambia.

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EDITORIAL: Enforcing the anti-public smoking Law  

It is a welcome development to hear that the Gambia Police Fore has committed itself to enforcing the anti-public smoking law. This is fundamental because ever since the law that bans public smoking was introduced in the National Assembly as a private member bill by the former APRC member for Sami, Edrissa Samba Sallah and subsequently assented by the president, public smoking has not minimised at all. Even some lawmakers smoke at the National Assembly complex, we see security officers smoking anywhere, while drivers smoke on traffic. People also smoke in market centres; One then wonders what happened to the anti-smoking law. . . .

It is these serious health hazards associated with tobacco usage that led to the ban on public smoking. We therefore hope that the police would perform as expected and the general public would adhere to the dictates of the law so that those who are found wanting face the due process of law. We should always remember that this country has a sizeable youthful population; attempts to discourage the consumption of tobacco substances are in the best interest of sustainable development. This is because it is only a healthy populace that can produce meaningful socio-economic transformation. The consumption of substances like tobacco deny people the right to health and hence the right to development. 

We also wish to implore on our smokers particularly the youths to try and stop smoking, so that collectively we can produce a healthy society.

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High Court complex now a no-smoking zone 

When our reporter visited the judiciary complex in Banjul yesterday, placards were seen posted in several strategic places within the High Court complex, which reads: "NO SMOKING, ANYONE FOUND SMOKING WITHIN THE COURT PREMISES WOULD BE PROSECUTED."

The judicial secretary, John Belford, told this reporter that management has decided to place the placards on every strategic location within the court premises so as to remind the public that the High Court is also a non-smoking zone. He stated that the law would be enforced if anyone is found smoking within the High Court premises.

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EDITORIAL: Smoking kills  

Desorption of carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs (originating from cigarette smoke) from indoor surfaces, a process coined 'third-hand smoke', was already known to be an additional source of exposure to these toxins. The new research has shown, for the first time that nicotine residues absorbed on surfaces can react with atmospheric species, such as nitrous acid - providing another source of TSNAs.

Children in smoking households are of particular concern, . . .

Governments can protect people in public places, but they haven't got the mechanisms to protect those exposed in the home or in the car. Surely that would be intrusive, impossible to police and simply completely unrealistic. So to the question 'can we implement smoking bans at home?' I'm afraid my answer is no.

Instead we must continue to work at reducing the human impact of smoking through educating people, raising awareness, offering support mechanisms to those who'd like to quit smoking and finding novel ways to discourage those who are thinking of taking it up. Slowly but surely we must succeed in eradicating a problem that continues to plague the developed world and will certainly become a serious concern in the developing world in the coming decades.

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Ban on public smoking takes effect tomorrow  

The Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in collaboration with sister security agencies such as the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) National Intelligence Agency (NIA) together with  stakeholders are set to domesticate the country's anti- public smoking act to the letter,  effective October 1st 2010.

This development was revealed at a press briefing held yesterday at the conference hall of the Police headquarters in Banjul. The briefing, which was chaired by the Police public relations officer, Inspector Sulayman Secka, was organised  by the Office  of the Inspector General of Police, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Raid-the Gambia Office and the  World Health Organization office in Banjul.

The Gambia anti-public smoking act was enacted by the National Assembly on the 25th of July 1998 and assented to by the Gambian leader on the 23rd of September 1998. The act made among other provisions prohibits smoking of tobacco in public places and  other smoking related matters. It also contains a detailed interpretation of what is meant by public designated places for smoking, what is meant by tobacco and its impact on both smokers and non-smokers.

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• Police trained on anti-public smoking law 

About fifty officers of The Gambia Police Force have been trained on the law prohibiting smoking in public places. The sensitization workshop which was held on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Banjul sought to involve the members of the country's security apparatus to be firm against contravention of this law which has been passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

Speaking at the event, Mr Yerro Bah, programme manager at the Health Education Unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare noted that security officials are important in the enforcement of this law, which would protect thousands of non-smokers from the hazards of cigarette.

According to him, without the involvement of the police with other relevant security arms, the law cannot be fully implemented. While noting that The Gambia is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control which prohibit smoking in public places as well as the advertisement of tobacco products in signatory countries, Mr. Bah noted that it is also important that the public, especially those who smoke cigarette adhere to the provisions of the Act. . . .

Mr. Secka disclosed to TODAY that public places include office premises, Bantabas, public vehicles, private vehicles while in traffic, restaurants, bars, among other places, noting that as soon as this new law comes into force, any person caught smoking in these areas would be duly prosecuted with the full wrath of the law.

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• Anti-public smoking law to be re-enforced  

The Gambia Police Force in collaboration with sister security units in the country and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on Monday organised a one-day sensitisation forum on the re-enforcement of anti-public smoking act at the Police headquarters in Banjul.

The Anti-Tobacco Campaign law was ratified since 25th July 1998 and the Public Smoking Act assented to by the president but for some reasons was not enforced. The re-enforcement stated that with effect from October 1st 2010 all cigarette packets being imported into The Gambia are required to bear the following health warnings in the format prescribed hereafter: On the front of every new cigarette packaging, the front of the packet should bear the inscription; "SMOKING KILLS", at the back of the packet, it should bear; "SMOKING SERIOUSLY HARMS YOU AND OTHERS AROUND YOU". On the sides of the packet should be written; "SOLD IN THE GAMBIA".

Speaking at the occasion, Yorro Bah, programme manager of the Health Education Unit at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who doubles as the focal person for Tobacco Control in The Gambia, said every nation has a target to fight against tobacco.

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EDITORIAL: War against tobacco 

Tobacco consumption is sharply on the increase particularly on the part of the youths. Despite attempts by health organisations and the media to expose the deadly effects of its products, many people are still not paying heed as indicated by the number of usage. The possible explanation to this is that either the message being put across to the people is not clear or there is deficiency in effort to filter the information down.

It is therefore important that as we commemorate World No Tobacco Day, we put heads together and come up with strategies as to how people can be taken distance away from tobacco use. . . .

We hope that those consuming tobacco products will learn for themselves the fact and create for themselves the necessity to quit. We also expect that people manning public institutions and stakeholders should uphold the policies of the ministry of Health and Social Welfare and declare their office complexes no-moking zones. It is only through a collective battle that we can eliminate the effect of tobacco.

Author: DO

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• World Tobacco Day celebrated in NBR  

World Tobacco Day was recently celebrated in Kerewan in the North Bank Region (NBR) by RAID The Gambia, a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on theme: 'Gender and tobacco, with special emphasis on its marketing to women' .

Delivering a statement on behalf of the minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ngaly Abubacar Sambou, the regional health director for North Bank west, underscored the importance government attaches to the protection and maintenance of health for its citizenry. He said the celebration of the World Tobacco Day is aimed at highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

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EDITORIAL: Towards a tobacco-free society  

As we mark World Tobacco Day, we wish to call on the Ministry of Health and all other stakeholders to revisit the anti-public smoking rule by stepping up enforcement mechanisms so that those who are found wanting can face the due process of law. We should always remember that the country is a youthful country; attempts to discourage the consumption of tobacco substances are in the best interest of sustainable development.

This is because it is only a healthy populace that can produce meaningful socio-economic transformation. The consumption of substances like tobacco deny people the right to health and hence the right to development. We also wish to implore on our smokers particularly the youths to endeavour to find better alternatives to smoking and tobacco usage; the challenge therefore lies in their hands to safeguard their health so that collectively we can produce a healthy world.

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