Column: Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death in the world, estimated to kill 4.9 million people annually compared to 3 million annual deaths due to HIV AIDS.
A study carried out at Mulago Hospital, Uganda’s main referral hospital, found that 75% of the patients of oral cancer had a history of smoking with the number of years of cigarette smoking
ranging from 2-38 years.
In addition, 45% of the patients had a history of smoking within the 10-19 year duration. Data also indicated that smokers in Uganda might be starting at an early age and that under-age smoking is a problem.
The Parliament passed a law on 28th July, 2015 that brings Uganda into line with the strongest tobacco control policies around the world.
The same Act, subsequently assented to by the President on the 19th September, 2015 was to come into force six months from the date of its publication in the Uganda Gazette.
This ground-breaking law secures some of the toughest restrictions on the distribution, sale and use of tobacco products currently in place and position Uganda as one of the leaders in tobacco control in the region.
This milestone legislation come following a four-year onslaught from the tobacco industry to block the passing of stricter tobacco control in Uganda and provides the following protections:
- 100% smokefree public areas: smoking is not permitted within 50 meters of public spaces
- Complete ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS), as well as on cigarette pack displays at the point of sale
- No sale of cigarettes in public places such as healthcare facilities, cinemas, police stations, prisons, or within 50 meters of educational institutions or places where children are cared for.
- No sale of tobacco products to any person under 21 years of age.
- No sale of duty-free tobacco products.
- Complete ban on shisha (waterpipes), electronic cigarettes and chewable tobacco products.
- Large pictorial health warnings, covering 65% of the pack to inform the public of the dangers of tobacco.
The Tobacco Control Act took effect on Thursday this week, however, shocking reports do indicate that the police say they are not ready to enforce it as its officers have never been trained on the provisions of the law.
The liaison officer with the environment police at National Environment Management Authority (Nema),Mr Naboth Kusiima, says the officers need training on how to implement the law.
As we look to authorities, the key is this generation. It is possible to have a generation that doesn’t start smoking. How? To successfully protect them from the tactics of the tobacco industry which needs to recruit 50 new smokers a day to replace those who quit and those who die, we need to take up the responsibility on a personal level.
Nearly eight out of every ten current smokers took up the habit when they were teenagers. It is no wonder that teenagers are the key target market for tobacco industry marketing. Lets protect the youth from this epidemic right from the family level. As the government does its role, let every Ugandan do the same.
Quitting takes more than willpower. It takes a solid plan and for every solid plan, one needs the support of those he/she is living with. Nicotine is an addiction, but quitting is possible.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
