Gov�t to strengthen tobacco control laws
Baboki Kayawe | Friday March 24, 2017 16:13
The law is meant to protect people from devastating consequences of tobacco use.
“The Government of Botswana in recognising that tobacco use is a health and development priority, has committed to strengthen national tobacco control laws by repealing the Control of Smoking Act of 2004 to be compliant with the WHO FCTC. The legislation shall be sent to the July session of Parliament,” he said.
Jibril added it is undeniable that tobacco control is a development issue and its successful regulation relies on the contributions from sectors such as commerce, trade, finance, justice, education, the media and the general public.
In other parts of the world, it has been an uphill battle for countries to pass FCTC compliant legislation as the tobacco industry played delaying tactics.
In Kenya for instance, the comprehensive tobacco control law had to be defended by the Court of Appeal consequent to a legal challenge initiated by British American Tobacco Kenya back in 2014.
In 2012 British America Tobacco sponsored the Botswana police with a vehicle meant, to fight crime. Then, Japan Tobacco Incorporated (JTI) and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology partnered with the then Ministry of Agriculture “to boost agriculture by using technology to harness drought tolerance and increased productivity in monocotyledonous crops such as maize” in 2014.
Around 2015, Business Botswana and the tobacco industry teamed up on a campaign to curb youth smoking. However, the Ministry denied any interference during the drafting of the Bill given the documented partnerships between some Government agencies and the tobacco industry.
“We didn’t experience any challenges or interference from the tobacco industry though certain agencies had come into contact and formed partnerships with the industry,” said chief health officer, Thato Sengwaketse.
According to the 2014 Botswana tobacco surveillance study, 19.3% of the adult population aged 15-65 smokes, said Sengwaketse who was also present at the media brief.
Tobacco is a major risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Jibril said Government did not see the issue of NCDs, but now realising the country is having a double epidemic of HIV/AIDS control and tobacco use induced lifestyle diseases.
“We have started to prioritise NCDs. Unlike HIV/AIDS, their impact were not immediately visible, but now we have placed them as top priority and even the budget will continue to reflect so,” he added.
The director general of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan described NCDs as a ‘slow-moving catastrophe’ with the potential to overwhelm all countries unless decisive action is taken to address their causes.
Tobacco use is the one risk factor common to the four main groups of NCDs — cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes. It is also a risk factor for infectious diseases, tuberculosis and lower respiratory infections — health burdens that afflict much of humanity.
ATN executive director, Bontle Mbongwe implored the public to be as upset about tobacco use as they are currently distressed about the use of drugs in Botswana.
“Tobacco is the gateway to drugs because it is sold in our homes. So, it is important that we stand up and control tobacco use,” she said.
Meanwhile, the network launched a Media Fellowship Award meant to promote investigative journalism in the area of tobacco use and control.