04 Jun 2023

Tobacco smoking remains one of the most debatable issues worldwide and one of the causes of health problems in the human body. 

Molepolole North Member of Parliament Mr Oabile Regoeng said this during a World No Tobacco Day commemoration organised by Class Volunteers Foundation in Molepolole recently.

He said despite the warnings by the health sector and the World Health Organization, many people continued to indulge in tobacco smoking and other substances.

Mr Regoeng said with various educational campaigns to sensitize people about the dangers of smoking, many had not heeded the call to stop smoking but rather enjoyed smoking even other substances like marijuana, cat, ecstasy and cocaine among others. 

He added that the use of tobacco remained a difficult matter to address as others believed it was good for them while others wanted smoking tobacco and all its products banned.

He said what made the matter even more difficult was that the tobacco industry hired people who earned a living out of its sales, hence why governments could not close down tobacco industries as it had the economic value that played a pivotal role on lives of some people. Mr Regoeng it was important to continue educating people on the dangers of smoking and sensitise smokers on the end result of such a habit. 

He said no doctor had ever prescribed smoking for any sick person in order for them to get healed. 

He also advised those who smoked to do so at designated areas so that they did not affect those who did not smoke through passive smoking which has been described as even more dangerous to health.

Sharing on the World No Tobacco Day, executive director of Class Volunteers Foundation Mr Phetso Kgosiemang said the day which was celebrated annually on  May 31 is to remind people about the dangers of smoking, adding that the We Need Food, not Tobacco theme, sought to remind nations that what the body actually needed was food and not tobacco. 

He said the youth had been the most affected by smoking and the use of drugs which had a bearing in their future endeavours. 

He said their organisation was established in 2011 with the aim to encourage students to take their studies seriously. 

He said the movement was registered in 2015 and sponsored Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Skills Development. 

He said the ministry of education had given them a new assignment that targeted 14 schools in Molepolole, Mogoditshane and Lentsweletau focused on educating and sensitising learners on the use of drugs. 

He said the use of drugs among the youth was very high and worrisome, something that needed to be attended to urgently. 

Speaking on youth and tobacco Mr Kagiso Morebodi of Remmogo Organization said the use of marijuana among the youth was very dangerous . 

He said the youth seemed to downplay the danger it posed on their well-being. 

He implored parents to come together and take full responsibility of their children. 

He said Molepolole was known to harbour all the bad things and always in the spot light for the wrong things. 

That, he said could change if people worked together.

Attendants called for the ban of smoking. Ms Itumeleng Kekwaletswe said people should be educated on the dangers of smoking and believed such will bring change. 

She said village development committees should be allocated land to till and grow food thereby employ youth who were roaming the street without employment. 

Kgosi Kgari Sechele III said the day reminded many that smoking was of no use except  to bring health problems. 

He said this will help those who smoke to stop and focus on their health which was important for their survival. ENDS