Tobacco.org

• Investigation: Ban On Public Smoking Not Holding  

A meticulous investigation conducted by the Independent Authoritative Heritage Newspaper has  discovered  that the ban placed on public smoking by the Liberian government  several months ago is being grossly violated,  as some  people are seen smoking in public places on a daily basis.  Our investigation, which was carried out in Monrovia and its immediate environs, found out  that those involved in the prohibited act  spoke openly in the public, especially in the streets,  night clubs, bars,  entertainment centers, public vehicles among others without being  taken to the relevant government authorities for punishment so as deter their banned  act.    

According to our investigation, several of those, who are involved in public smoking in flagrant violation of the law, openly brag that the ban placed on public smoking is for those who made the law.

Our investigation unearthed that most, if not all of those involved in the prohibited act, are between the ages of 15-35.

Moreover, it was also discovered during our investigation that some business houses, particularly night clubs and entertainment centers are also involved in the use and sale of tobacco by persons under the age of 18

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• Liberia Enforces Public Smoking Ban  

Liberia has begun implementing legislation passed in 2008 that prohibits smoking in buses, restaurants, workplaces, and other public places. The ban also prohibits those under the age of 18 from buying or using tobacco products.

The ban is part of efforts to check increased rates of tobacco use and the attendant health concerns and costs.

Global public health experts say it remains a challenge to educate Africans about the risks of secondhand smoke, which contains dangerous compounds like tar, benzene and carbon monoxide. Secondhand smoke has been linked to cancer, low birth weight and chronic lung-related illnesses, particularly in children.

"An example of this would be people who are suffering asthma," says said Liberian public health expert William Roland. "Someone suffering from asthma is sitting near someone who is smoking, and that person is going to have what we call hyper-secretion, a hyper-sensitivity to the smoke [that] produce more mucus in their respiratory tract that will cause pulmonary obstruction."

Though rates of tobacco use in sub-Saharan Africa remain relatively low, health experts say they are climbing faster than anywhere else in the world.

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Liberia: Public Smoking Banned Takes Effect 

There is bad news for public smokers, as government officially begins the implementation of a 2008 legislation prohibiting the use of tobacco and tobacco products in public places, as well as the sale and use of any such products by persons under the age of 18 years.

The proponent of "An act to prohibit the use of tobacco and tobacco products in public places and the sale and use of tobacco and tobacco products by persons under the age of 18 years," Lofa County Senior Senator, Sumo Kupee, told this paper in an exclusive interview at the Capitol Building Wednesday, that all was now set for government's implementing arm, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement the act which was enacted into law almost three years ago.

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• Ban on Public Smoking Takes Effect 

There is bad news for public smokers, as government officially begins the implementation of a 2008 legislation prohibiting the use of tobacco and tobacco products in public places, as well as the sale and use of any such products by persons under the age of 18 years.

The proponent of “An act to prohibit the use of tobacco and tobacco products in public places and the sale and use of tobacco and tobacco products by persons under the age of 18 years,” Lofa County Senior Senator, Sumo Kupee, told this paper in an exclusive interview at the Capitol Building Wednesday, that all was now set for government’s implementing arm, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement the act which was enacted into law almost three years ago. . . .

Back home in Liberia, it seems authorities are now moving to quell the high rate of danger posed by exposed use of tobacco and tobacco products, although government has failed to do so since the 52nd National Legislature passed a law on September 11, 2008, and printed same into Handbill and was published by authorities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 23, 2008.

Senator Kupee disclosed that the delay in the implementation of the tobacco ban in public places was among other things due to the Health Ministry’s “desire to take the credit for the crafting of the law.”

He expressed disappointment over the protracted delay, but later intoned that he was now a “happy man”, since the law that he sponsored was now ready to be implemented.

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• BERRY; Preemptive Health Measures will save Thousands of Liberian Lives: Ban Public Smoking (Guest Commentary) 

During my recent visit to Liberia in February of 2011, at the entrance of the Gabriel Ticker Bridge in Vai Town heading towards central Monrovia, I came across a billboard that touched me - deeply and truly. It was a cigarette advertisement, with a huge disclaimer at the bottom warning that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.

The largest cigarette producing countries, including the United States, China, India, Brazil, and Turkey, have banned all smoking in public places. . . .

Healthcare is already limited in Liberia; yet, we are allowing our citizens to endanger their health and the health of thousands of others through second hand smoke. There is too much smoking in the republic of Liberia. The government needs to institute a sin tax to discourage Liberians from smoking in public places without making the use of the tobacco product illegal. . . .

During my visit to Liberia, I visited many restaurants, cook shops, night clubs, and bars and they were all filled with the silent cancer catalyst. . . .

On Wednesday March 9, 2011 which was Decoration Day, Liberians remembered those who went before us. Today, let us honor and protect those who are here with us. It's time for our elected representatives to protect the lives of our Liberian citizens by passing a law that would ban smoking in all enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants, thus putting an end to this preventable disease. Our elected officials have the moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to protect the Liberian people by establishing smoke-free workplaces and smoke-free public venues in the Republic of Liberia.

Please join my Facebook group: Liberians and FOL for Smoking Ban in All Public Venues in Liberia: (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55353023912&v=wall#!/group.php?gid=55353023912&v=info

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CHEEKS: Cigarette Smoking: What are you getting from it? 

Not only is there a psychological dependence but there is also a physical one.

When I ask an individual when he/she started smoking most times I am told that it started when he/she was younger, in high school or very early as a result of his/her family. When I ask if he/she would like to quit, I usually hear “I do but I am too stressed right now.” . . .

Maya Angelou said it best "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”. I can not believe that individuals in today’s time, both in the US and Liberia, are unaware that cigarette smoking was/is bad for one’s health but I will accept that the extent to which cigarette smoking impacts one’s health and the many medical conditions it is associated with may not have been. So, again, “…when you know better you do better”. Let today be the day that you are resolved to quit smoking.

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Johnson-Sirleaf Signs Tobacco Act 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has signed several legislations submitted by the leadership of Joint House and Senate Committees on Executive.

The legislations presented last Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs include an Act prohibiting the sale and use of tobacco products in places and the sale and use of tobacco and tobacco products by persons under 18 years of age.

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Liberian Daily News Bulletin 

* The National Security Agency (NSA) has seized a consignment of cigarettes from a business center in Monrovia. The Spokesman of Abu Brother Company says 925 cartons of BOSS cigarettes were seized yesterday. Mr. Abu Jalloh said the cigarettes were originally destined for Guinea where he runs a similar business.

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