Ministry of Health says tobacco is one of the greatest public health threats that the world is facing and Zambia is not an exception.
Permanent Secretary for Administration, Kennedy Malama says about seven million people are killed by tobacco use worldwide every year.
Dr. Malama was speaking during the presentation of findings and recommendations of Joint Needs Assessment report on Tobacco use in Lusaka today.
He stated that nearly all tobacco use begins in childhood and adolescence adding that tobacco trends are rising among the youths.
Dr. Malama said there is need to significantly reduce tobacco use in the country to achieve Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) number 3 which urges member countries to accelerate implementation of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco control (WHO-FCTC).
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation(WHO) Country representative, Nathan Kakyaita said tobacco is one of the eight leading causes of death each year.
Dr. Bakyaita explained that tobacco related deaths are more than any other causes of deaths worldwide.
He has urged the Zambian government to put in place measures such as the Tobacco taxation system, increase public awareness and introduce alternative frameworks of farming in line with the WHO- FCTC protocol which Zambia is a signatory.
Passive smokers are the most endangered species. Smoking in public was outlawed in 2006, but still see pockets of people smoking in public due to lack of publicity.
“Permanent Secretary for Administration, Kennedy Malama says about seven million people are killed by tobacco use worldwide every year”..This is good for “game cropping” (population control) especially that land is becoming scarce.Imagine if there was no HIV AIDS some of you would not have been employed as there would be no vacancies. That is why in the past when there was no HIV AIDS witchcraft was norm and on a rise like putting poison in tea to get rid of your boss. Nowadays you just wait for short time and your boss dies from cancer (especially prostrate) , HIV, diabetes and sugar related diseases.No need to stress.
Sad. Sad news comparable only to any news featuring HH and his cadres.
Why not ban tobacco growing and cigarette production?