Health advocates want anti-tobacco public education campaign improved
Mar 20, 2014
World health representatives and health ministry representatives from Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda want warnings on cigarette packs and anti-tobacco public education campaign improved as a strategy to fight tobacco use.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
World health representatives and health ministry representatives from Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda want warnings on cigarette packs and anti-tobacco public education campaign improved as a strategy to fight tobacco use.
“We have strong evidence that graphic pack warnings and mass media campaign can prompt smokers to quit and support tobacco measures,” said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, centre manager for Tobacco control in Africa.
The revelations were made at the on-going four-day AFRO regional workshop on Tobacco Control Media Campaign organised by Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) and World Lung Foundation (WLF) at Kabira Country Club in Kampala.
Mugyenyi says the health warnings and messages on tobacco product packaging and labelling should be about 50% of the principal display areas.
“When compared with text-only health warnings and messages, those with pictures provoke more thought about the health risks of tobacco use,” he said
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Participants in a group discussion during the tobacco control media campaign workshop at Kabira Country Club Kampala. Photo by Agnes Kyotalengerire
The text of health warnings and messages should be in bold print, an easily legible font size and in a specified style and colour(s) that enhance overall visibility and legibility.
Mugyenyi said Kenya and South Africa are in advanced stages of implementing graphic health warnings and said countries like Uganda, Botswana, Nigeria and Rwanda have an opportunity to either introduce graphic warnings or to increase the size of small warning currently on cigarrate packs.
He urged participants to embrace the national mass media campaigns to educate people about the dangers of tobacco use.
Dean of the school of public Health Makerere University also Director of the Centre, Professor William Bazeyo said in counties like Uganda where tobacco use is on the increase among youth at 17%, we need tools like communication and graphic health warnings to create awareness both here and across of all Africa.
Professor Bazeyo said using tobacco products has risen over the last few years and Uganda is now at the take-off phase of the tobacco epidemic.
We need to sensitize young people that tobacco taken in any form is dangerous, he said
Mugyenyi said use of tobacco and exposure to tobacco smoke causes diseases, disability and death.
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Dr Sheila Ndyanabaingi, the national focal person Tobacco control at ministry of Health (extreme right) and other participants during the tobacco control media campaign workshop at Kabira Country Club. Photo by Agnes Kyotalengerire
Globally, 73% of cancers result from cigarette smoking and second hand smoking, and the situation is not different for Uganda.
According to the 2011 Uganda demographic health survey, tobacco use among adults (15 to 54 years) is at 15 for males and 3% for females. Whereas tobacco use among youth both in and out of school is at 17.3% which is much higher than the prevalence of adults of 15% (2011UDHS).
“The trend is worrying and it will have an effect on the incidences of non- communicable diseases, an epidemic we cannot afford to have, on top of the epidemic for communicable diseases”, Mugyenyi said.
Sandra Mullin senior vice president, policy and communications, World Lung Foundation said tobacco control media campaign comes at a time when the economic success in many countries is making them a target for tobacco companies.
Mullin is optimistic that lives of many Africans will be positively impacted by the outcome of the campaign in the next four days.