Tobacco.org

RAID - Country Holds National Consultative Forum On FCTC 

"Tobacco has been a subject of intensive debate on the international health agenda for quite too long" says Dr. Nestor Shivute, the World Health Organisation Representative to the Gambia.

Dr. Shivute made this remark at a one-day national consultative workshop on the WHO framework convention on tobacco control organised by the African Network for Information and Action against Drugs (RAID).

Dr. Shivute commended the government of the Gambia for ratifying the WHO framework convention on Tobacco, without which it would not have been possible to hold this very important meeting.

He said it had not only been a long way but a difficult journey in establishing these facts associated with negative social, economic and political implications due to tobacco use.

He stated that it is in response to this complex dilemma surrounding tobacco use that the World Health Organisation has since 1998 been working very closely with its 192 member states, international institutions and organizations around the world to develop an all inclusive framework convention for tobacco control.

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EDITORIAL: Freeing The Gambia from tobacco  

New thinking is the hallmark of our age. And the threats of tobacco smoking and the burden it superimposes on our health requires a string of reforms to revert the trend.

According to statistics from the African Network for Information and Action Against Drugs and Substance Abuse (RAID) The Gambia, 25,000 Gambians have died of tobacco, with young people constituting the highest percentage. The WHO statistics indicate that at least 5 million people die of tobacco and its related substances each year.

The use of tobacco is the leading preventable killer in most countries, including The Gambia. And deaths from tobacco related cancers: lungs, throat, or bladder cancer is 10 to 15% higher. Unfortunately, even with the best treatment available today, nine out of ten lung cancers are fatal. . . .

Now that a national consultation on this 193-member state evidence-based convention is ongoing, we owe it to ourselves and our children to dispose our energies and wisdom for the successful implementation of the treaty.

The convention present a holistic approach to eradicate tobacco in society, thereby filling the gaps in the Public Smoking Act. We must continue to act with diligence and consistency.

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World No Tobacco Day observed  

The International Community, including The Gambia yesterday observed world no tobacco day. The theme for this year's celebration is smoke free inside. Delivering his statement at the ceremony Dr Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare has duelled on the right to clean air, emphasising that free from tobacco smoke is a fundamental human right. Non smokers, he added, have a right not to be exposed to other peoples smoke. According to him, the day is commemorated in The Gambia, alongside other member states of the world health organisation, to address the harmful effects of the use of tobacco, in all its forms, be it smoking, chewing, sniffing. The theme focus on 100% smoke free environment' which he said is widely regarded as the only effective measure to protect public health.

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Gov't ready to combat tobacco smoking  

A tripartite condemnation by the executive, legislative and the security forces prohibiting the importation, distribution and sale of tobacco that is claimed to have been the cause of the death of millions of people hits up at the World No Tobacco Day celebration at the National Assembly yesterday.

Hon Churchill Baldeh, the majority leader of the National Assembly, who deputised for the Speaker of the National Assembly, as the guest speaker, said to combat the use of tobacco needs the participation of all and sundry. "We should all campaign against tobacco as it is eating into our youth fabrics, the cream of our nation. The police and other security agents should help to achieve our aim in combating smoking tobacco. MRC has done it. None of their staff smokes in their premises. We can also stop smoking in our offices and work places," he said.

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EDITORIAL: Tobacco and the human health  

Despite several warnings that smoking is dangerous, cancer has remained a serious problem. Although, the number of cancers seen each year is slightly above average for an old industrial urban state, the death rate from cancer is well above the national average. Six out of ten cancers are curable. Of the other four, two could have been prevented. The use of tobacco is the leading preventable killer in most countries. And deaths from tobacco related cancers: lungs, throat, or bladder cancer is 10 to 15% higher. Unfortunately, even with the best treatment available today, nine out of ten lung cancers are fatal.

We know that the nicotine in tobacco is an addictive drug. We now face an epidemic of youthful nicotine addiction . . .

So, without smoking, a healthy diet, more exercise, and an aspirin a day, you can prevent many of the most deadly cancers and along the way improve your heart health. Being cancer-smart can be heart-smart as well.

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• WHO convention on tobacco control ratified  

Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare on Tuesday tabled before members of the National Assembly, the World Health Organisation Convention on Tobacco Control for ratification. The objective of this convention and its protocols, is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tabacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke by providing a framework for tobacco control measures to be implemented by the parties at the national, regional and international levels, in order to reduce continually and substantially the prevelance of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

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Country is Yet to Ratify Convention On Tobacco Control, Says Gassama 

"At The World Health Assembly in May 2003, the member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) agreed on a ground breaking public health treaty to control tobacco supply and consumption." Says WHO Communications Officer, Mr. Gassama.

He noted that the text of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) covers tobacco taxation, illicit trade, advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and product regulation.

Mr. Gassama stated that the Republic of Tanzania is the latest African country to ratify the WHO frame-work Convention on Tobacco Control on the 30th of April 2007.

According to Mr. Gassama, the Gambia signed the WHO FCTC on the 16th of June 2003, but has not yet ratified it.

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Youth in Anti-Public Smoking March 

Hundreds of demonstrating youth marking World Tobacco Day handed over a petition in the form of a banner called for the enforcement of the Anti-Public Smoking law. The youth, led by Speaker of the National Youth Parliament, Lamin F. Bojang, handed over the banner to the Speaker of the National Assembly who is expected to, in turn, hand it over to the Inspector General of Police. Smoking in public was legislated against since June 1998 but the law remains widely unrecognized and few even can remember it.

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Gov't Ready to Combat Tobacco Smoking 

A tripartite condemnation by the executive, legislative and the security forces prohibiting the importation, distribution and sale of tobacco that is claimed to have been the cause of the death of millions of people hits up at the World No Tobacco Day celebration at the National Assembly yesterday.

Hon Churchill Baldeh, the majority leader of the National Assembly, who deputised for the Speaker of the National Assembly, as the guest speaker, said to combat the use of tobacco needs the participation of all and sundry. "We should all campaign against tobacco as it is eating into our youth fabrics, the cream of our nation. The police and other security agents should help to achieve our aim in combating smoking tobacco. MRC has done it. None of their staff smokes in their premises. We can also stop smoking in our offices and work places," he said.

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Youth smokers to die 25 years earlier 

Samba Faal, secretary of state for Youth and Sports, has informed youths that they risk dying at an early age if they continue smoking.

Speaking at the launching of the 'Youth Prevention Campaign' initiated by British American Tobacco last week, Mr Faal said research has shown that people who smoke in their teens and continue for two decades or more, will die 20 or 25 years earlier than those who never smoke...

Mr Fall noted the efforts of British American Tobacco in its campaign against youth smoking and its ban on under aged from smoking its products.

"This initiative will further compliment government's efforts, which has already taken a bold step by enacting a ban on tobacco advertisement and on public smoking," he said.

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Smoking initiation among Gambian adolescents: social cognitive influences and the effect of cigarette sampling 

Our study supports current efforts to prohibit tobacco advertising and promotions in The Gambia, especially the distribution of free samples. Additionally, we recommend prevention activities in schools and communities to aim at making children less vulnerable to 'sampling', increasing their self-efficacy expectations regarding emotional situations and making them aware of the influence of their best friend.

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Tobacco Use Worrisome for WHO 

The Gambian born Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has asserted that the use of tobacco has only helped to entrench what he called the vicious cycle of poverty in countries particularly in Africa, where the tendency has been addictive.

Dr. Ebrahima Malick Samba said on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day recently, that the negative effects and inherent risks to health resulting from tobacco are so evident that there is now a growing body of evidence of its contribution to the entrenchment of poverty.

According to him tobacco and poverty have been inextricably linked over the years and create a vicious cycle. "Once addicted, money and resources that could be used to purchase food, education and health care is diverted towards the purchase of tobacco products," he added. He stated that it is the poorest member of the society who tends to smoke the most and bear most of the economic burn and disease of tobacco usage.

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• PanAfrica: UK Firms Gives African Youths Tobacco - Report 

A BBC investigation has found that a British tobacco company is actively targeting young people and teenagers in Africa.

Cigarettes are being handed out free at youth events specially organised by tobacco firms during school holidays.

The companies insist they only give the samples to adult smokers, but there's evidence their own rules are not being followed.

The investigation is a further blow to an industry already dogged by accusations of dirty tricks and dubious marketing techniques, particularly in developing countries.

The company involved, British American Tobacco (BAT), has pledged to re-train its staff to stop the practice. . . .

The Gambia, a Muslim country, used to be one of the few places where cigarette advertising was banned.

After a military coup the ban was lifted three years ago and now tobacco sponsorship is everywhere.

The result has been a doubling of cigarette sales almost overnight. The World Health Organisation believes it has also led to an increase in smoking among children.

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Gambia: Govt. Supports Tobacco Convention 

The government of The Gambia is among the member states of World Health organisation (WHO) to finalize a groundbreaking treaty on the control of tobacco supply and consumption. The member states, which included 171 countries agreed on a final text for WHO global framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC) covering tobacco taxation, smoking prevention and treatment, illicit trade, sponsorship and promotion, advertisement and product regulation.

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Bat Seconds Tobacco Marketing Industries 

British American Tobacco ( BAT), world's second largest tobacco company, which operates in 180 countries, and controls about 15 percent of world tobacco market shares, is dedicated to satisfy the needs of its growing customers, and to top the whole tobacco industry. The company was founded in 1902 by a merger of American and British tobacco companies, resulting to a union in 1999 on a global level by two companies, namely The Rothman's International and British American Company. . .

It is established in The Gambia, and its presence date back in the 70s, comprising seven well-trained professionals. The British American Tobacco Gambia team is solely responsible for the supervision of the distribution network and for organizing brand promotional activities.

As part of galvanizing its image, the staff and management of the company on Thursday held a cocktail dinner at Fajara to promote the products.

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