Ban tobacco ads - minister
May 29, 2008
AS Uganda marks the world no-tobacco day tomorrow, the health minister has called for a ban on advertising by tobacco companies, as well as a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children.
By Anthony Bugembe
AS Uganda marks the world no-tobacco day tomorrow, the health minister has called for a ban on advertising by tobacco companies, as well as a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children.
“Tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death and disability,†Dr. Stephen Mallinga told journalists yesterday in Kampala.
“The Attorney General should move laws to prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship by tobacco companies. Laws to prohibit sale to minors should be enacted.â€
He cited a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which found that 15.6% of Ugandan students had ever smoked cigarettes and 5.5% were smoking at the time of the study.
“The use of tobacco is likely to be higher among out-of-school youth who have not had the opportunity to be taught about the dangers of tobacco.â€
In addition, over 50% of those interviewed had been exposed to tobacco promotion messages.
Mallinga appealed to all sectors to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco, which Uganda ratified in May 2006.
He asked the finance ministry to increase VAT on tobacco products,
This, he said, was to “achieve a win-win situation of reducing tobacco use among young people while increasing revenues from taxes in consonance with Kenya and Tanzaniaâ€.
The bureau of standards should come up with standards for labeling, packaging and disclosure of the content of tobacco products, Mallinga stated.
“Warnings on cigarettes should cover 50% of the principal display areas with pictures showing dangers of tobacco and clear, large words.â€
Cigarette packages in Uganda only mention in small letters the addictive nature of cigarettes and the health dangers of smoking.
Mallinga advised tobacco growers in areas like Arua and Bunyoro to heed the President’s call and shift to alternative means of livelihood such as rice growing and poultry keeping.
While commending the Government for passing a law against public smoking, he called upon NEMA to enforce the law.
Mallinga also pledged to increase public education to reduce tobacco use.
He promised to provide services to help addicts stop smoking.
Benjamin Sensasi, an information officer at the WHO office in Kampala, said the biggest number of the estimated 1.8 billion global smokers live in developing countries.
“In about 10 years’ time, tobacco-related diseases will overtake communicable diseases as the leading cause of death,†he predicted.
He said the cost of treating tobacco-related diseases was higher than the income received from it.
Anti-tobacco activists will petition the Speaker of Parliament today, calling for implementation of anti-smoking legislation
AS Uganda marks the world no-tobacco day tomorrow, the health minister has called for a ban on advertising by tobacco companies, as well as a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children.
“Tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death and disability,†Dr. Stephen Mallinga told journalists yesterday in Kampala.
“The Attorney General should move laws to prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship by tobacco companies. Laws to prohibit sale to minors should be enacted.â€
He cited a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which found that 15.6% of Ugandan students had ever smoked cigarettes and 5.5% were smoking at the time of the study.
“The use of tobacco is likely to be higher among out-of-school youth who have not had the opportunity to be taught about the dangers of tobacco.â€
In addition, over 50% of those interviewed had been exposed to tobacco promotion messages.
Mallinga appealed to all sectors to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco, which Uganda ratified in May 2006.
He asked the finance ministry to increase VAT on tobacco products,
This, he said, was to “achieve a win-win situation of reducing tobacco use among young people while increasing revenues from taxes in consonance with Kenya and Tanzaniaâ€.
The bureau of standards should come up with standards for labeling, packaging and disclosure of the content of tobacco products, Mallinga stated.
“Warnings on cigarettes should cover 50% of the principal display areas with pictures showing dangers of tobacco and clear, large words.â€
Cigarette packages in Uganda only mention in small letters the addictive nature of cigarettes and the health dangers of smoking.
Mallinga advised tobacco growers in areas like Arua and Bunyoro to heed the President’s call and shift to alternative means of livelihood such as rice growing and poultry keeping.
While commending the Government for passing a law against public smoking, he called upon NEMA to enforce the law.
Mallinga also pledged to increase public education to reduce tobacco use.
He promised to provide services to help addicts stop smoking.
Benjamin Sensasi, an information officer at the WHO office in Kampala, said the biggest number of the estimated 1.8 billion global smokers live in developing countries.
“In about 10 years’ time, tobacco-related diseases will overtake communicable diseases as the leading cause of death,†he predicted.
He said the cost of treating tobacco-related diseases was higher than the income received from it.
Anti-tobacco activists will petition the Speaker of Parliament today, calling for implementation of anti-smoking legislation