GHANA KICKS AGAINST TOBACCO USE

Ghana has once again renewed its commitment in fighting against the use of tobacco products, especially cigarettes in the country.

On 31st of May every year, the World No Tobacco Day is celebrated. As per the requirement, every member country in the WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control must protect the health of the public from the serious dangers of tobacco.

This year's World No Tobacco Day celebration was under the theme: “Tobacco industry interference” that seeks to expose and counter the tobacco industry's attempt to undermine WHO framework.

In a statement signed and issued, the Minister of Health, Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin in Accra last Thursday called on all ministries, department, agencies, civil society organizations and decision-makers to be alert and resist efforts by tobacco industry to undermine or disrupt tobacco control initiatives.

The statement said it has noted with concern the industry's brazen and increasingly aggressive efforts to undermine global tobacco control efforts.

The statement further stated that Ghana would put the fight against tobacco industry's interference at the heart of its efforts to the global tobacco epidemic.

It said research has proved that nearly 6 million people die annually, 600,000 are exposed to second-hand smoke.

These alarming figures, it indicated would increase by 2030 and 8 million people could get killed of which 80% will live in low and middle income countries if nothing is done to curb the menace.

In the case of Ghana, the statement indicated that 14.3% of Junior High School students have tried smoking cigarettes, 19.5% currently use tobacco products and 4.9% currently smoke cigarettes.

It gave the assurance that government through the ministries and development partners would do everything to be alerted on any efforts by tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts.

By: Iddrissu Abubakari Jara