By Getrude Mbago , The Guardian
TOBACCO control campaigners have urged the government to come up with a stronger law to curb harmful consumption of tobacco products and protect public health.
The campaigners argue that lack of stronger laws as well as high taxation on tobacco products continue to allow harmful consumption of tobacco products, some- thing which reverses the efforts invested in controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
They made the call recently when debating on a live programme ‘Malumbano ya Hoja’ aired by ITV, emphasising that it is important for the country to have a strict law in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Lutgard Kagaruki, Executive Director of Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum (TTCF), said experts have confirmed that tobacco kills half of all users, something which calls for immediate action to ensure that Tanzanians are protected from the disaster.
She said that despite significant progress in reducing tobacco use, the emergence of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products presents a threat to youth and tobacco control.
“If we do not make efforts to control tobacco consumption, NCDs including cancer, heart, and liver diseases will continue to surge,” she said.
She noted that the country ratified the FCTC in April 2007, but implementation of the treaty has been weak and obligations under the treaty are not reflected in the current tobacco control legislation with consequent increase in tobacco use instead of decreasing.
Kagaruki said Tanzania is among some countries without a comprehensive tobacco control law in line with WHO FCTC, adding that neighbouring countries like Uganda and Kenya have already taken steps to fight harmful consumption of tobacco products.
Prof Francis Furia, paediatrician at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), said that many users of tobacco products, including cigarettes end up being addicted and later become patients who need medical support.
He said tobacco has a number of negative impacts on human health, adding that staying in an area where people smoke shisha for one hour is equal to smoking 100 pieces of cigarettes.
“We have seen many people losing their lives due to pneumonia and this affects both children and adults, we really need to heighten efforts to protect children from cigarette smoke because the impacts are many,” he said.
Prof Furia said many companies now shift to electronic cigarettes which attract and turn many youth into nicotine addicts.
Anna Henga, Executive Director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), called for strict taxation on tobacco products as a measure to- wards protecting children from the harmful influences of the tobacco industry.
According to her, raising tax on tobacco products will help reduce production and supply of the products in the country to protect the country’s population.
“This includes clearly having a ban on tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship; enforced ban on misleading packaging and strict adherence to enforcement of graphic health warnings on all cigarette packs, as well as increased taxes on tobacco products to reduce affordability among children,” she said.
Japhari Mtoro, Drug Inspector at the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), said that the country has laws that prevent tobacco use and that people have to adhere to them.
He said the law prohibits children from using tobacco products or being exposed to places where tobacco is used.
He said TMDA has invested in public awareness to en- sure that there is no violation of the law and also conducts inspections in various areas, including public places to ensure that people are protected from tobacco.
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