02 Jun 2014

Tobacco smoking has been identified as the single most important cause of premature death in the developed countries and also a major public health concern in many regions.

Speaking at the commemoration of World No Tobacco day in Kang on Saturday May 31, chief health officer in the Ministry of Health, Mr Setshwano Mokgweetsinyana said the damaging effects of tobacco on health are well known.

“There is a well-established consensus among public health authorities that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke,” he said.

Mr Mokgweetsinyana said the negative health effects associated with smoking place a heavy burden on the health system in the country as they impose health costs on non-smokers and children as well.

He said other effects include health impairment from cancer to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases from exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.

The chief health officer said it was a disturbing factor to note that tobacco remains one of the permitted products sold in public trading places, in many countries including Botswana despite being among the most harmful products and the impact it has in polluting the surrounding environment.

He said it was unfortunate that smokers are often not aware of the rapid decline in risk which occurs soon after cessation, notably from coronary heart disease.

As a way of reducing smoking in the country, he said there was need to raise taxes on tobacco since price and tax measures have proven to be most effective in reducing tobacco consumption.

Mr Mokgweetsinyana said, “There is significant evidence that increasing the price of tobacco products through tax is the most effective public policy recommended by WHO FCTC for reducing tobacco consumption as it will reduce the number of children and teenagers starting to smoke and will also increase the number of smokers quitting for good since tobacco would be not affordable them.”

The increase in tobacco tax would also have a positive economic effect by raising government revenue which would be used as compensation for costs in treating diseases incurred as a result of tobacco use, he said.

The Ministry of Heath has gone a long way in improving the legal requirements in the country to control tobacco.

“Botswana signed the WHO framework convention on tobacco in 2003 and ratified it in 2005. This international treaty requires formulation of tobacco control legislation as part of its implementation,” he said.

The success of the fight against tobacco, he said, should be a multi-sectoral commitment. Ends