03 Jun 2019

 As a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Botswana is committed to regulating and controlling the use of tobacco to save lives.

This commitment is evident in the country’s implementation of the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as well as other interventions intended to control the use of tobacco and its products.

Speaking at the national World No Tobacco Day commemoration in Mabutsane recently, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said as a party to the FCTC, which WHO members signed in 2003 and ratified two years later, Botswana was committed to implementing the provisions aimed at tobacco control. 

He said tobacco smoking had been identified as the major cause of premature deaths in developed countries while at the same time it is a public health concern in developing countries.

 As a result, he said, Botswana moved swiftly to sign the Protocol on Elimination of Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2013, which they are yet to ratify.

Additionally, he said they were working towards presenting the Tobacco Legislation to Parliament to show commitment towards this course.

“Notwithstanding the challenges pertaining to the delay in passing of the new Tobacco Legislation, we are currently in the process of presenting the legislation to Parliament. 

In 2014 we introduced the Tobacco Levy, which the ministry will use to outsource some of the tobacco control initiatives to civil society organisations to spread our wings and enhance community participation,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Lelatisitswe said plans were underway to implement the recommendations of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), which was conducted between 2017 and 2018,and the findings of which were shared during last year’s World No Tobacco Day commemoration.

He said the objective of this year’s commemoration was not only to raise awareness on the negative impact of tobacco on lung health, but also to advocate for effective policies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption.

This call, he noted, could be achieved through stakeholder engagement and adopting the multi-sectoral approach towards tobacco control.

Consequently, the assistant minister appealed to various stakeholders to join hands with government to ensure a healthy nation.

“Government alone cannot win this battle. We all need to work together to conquer the use of tobacco and its products to ensure we have healthy lungs,” he noted.

For her part, Dr Bontle Mbongwe of the Anti-Tobacco Network appreciated the government’s commitment and efforts towards protecting public health through tobacco control.

She said Botswana indicated a high level of commitment towards this course by being the first Southern African Customs Union member to increase the tobacco levy to 30 per cent.

However, Dr Mbongwe noted that the country was lagging behind in terms of implementing tobacco control policies.

She called on the government and other stakeholders to double their efforts in ensuring that the policies were implemented for them to be effective.

“We continue to see children selling and buying tobacco, something which is against the policies.

Advertising of tobacco and its products should also stop,” she said.

Additionally, Dr Mbongwe called for the review of tobacco policies to align them with the FCTC in order to reduce the death and poverty levels related to tobacco consumption.

She also underscored the need for proper licensing, which would ban the sale of tobacco in homes.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane Mr Shawn Ntlhaile urged all stakeholders to speak with one voice and  come  up with universal policies to combat tobacco consumption.

He urged the youth to make use of the sensitisation campaigns to take care of their health.

He also commended government for funding such an informative event, despite financial challenges.

Relating his experience, a former smoker Mr Steffans Raphuti urged young people to always heed advice given by health professionals to protect their lungs.

“I used to be a heavy smoker and my health was deteriorating gradually. 

My journey towards quitting was not easy, but due to determination I eventually overcame tobacco addiction,” he said. ENDS