Ghanaians express concern on increase in tobacco use

Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - A survey, carried out by the Health Research Unit (HRU) of the Ghana Health Service has stated that more Ghanaians have expressed concern about tobacco use among the youth and have called for legislation on tobacco control.

The legislation would give a legal backing to help control tobacco consumption, help prevent diseases, help in the implementation of the FCTC and will also show commitment the nation has towards preventing tobacco consumption.

The survey was to assess Ghana's readiness for tobacco control measures as evidenced by indicators such as knowledge of the health effects of tobacco use, support for implementation of the provision of the FCTC by key opinion leaders including policy makers, parliamentarians, media personnel and civil society groups.

It was also to determine the level of support for comprehensive ban on tobacco advertisements, promotion of sponsorship tobacco tax increases, stronger pack warnings, identify the perceived obstacles to implement the FCTC in Ghana and elicit suggestions on how to overcome the obstacles.

Out of the 300 respondents in Accra who were interviewed, 200 expressed concern and gave reasons such as its health hazards, effect on nation's economy, its effect on non-smokers and the fact that smoking leads to the use of hard drugs.

Mrs. Edith Wellington of HRU who gave the findings at a day's dissemination seminar on the study on the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Ghana, said respondents called for a ban on smoking in indoor workplaces, tobacco and cigarette advertisement, use of any tobacco product at social events by sponsors, events sponsored by tobacco companies and give a ways of cigarette and other tobacco products to the youth.

For most effective strategies to control smoking and the use of tobacco products, respondents called for tax increase on tobacco products, non-sale of cigarette and other tobacco products to children below 18 years, disclosure of ingredients in cigarette on packs and display of large, precise and non-deceptive warning on cigarette packs. Respondents called for a sustained public education on harmful effects as well as on the FCTC and urged parliamentarians to refuse offers from tobacco companies and government should also provide adequate financial and other resources to support the FCTC.

Dr Joaquim Saweka, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative said tobacco related diseases were on the rise in Africa, saying that over four million people worldwide died in 1998 of tobacco related diseases.

He said if the current tobacco use trend continued, "it is estimated that by 2030, 10 million people will die from tobacco related diseases and seven million of these people would be from developing countries-half billion people alive today will be killed by tobacco products".

He urged government, non-governmental organisations, community groups and health professionals to play their role in combating the epidemic of tobacco use.

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of GHS said smoking remained the leading preventable cause of death and continued to cost society to many lives.

He noted that experience has shown that there were many cost effective tobacco control measures that could be used in different settings and that could have significant impact on tobacco consumption. "The most cost-effective strategies are population-wide public policies, like bans on direct and indirect tobacco advertising, tobacco tax and price increases, smoke-free environments in all public and workplaces and all these measures are discussed on the provisions of he WHO FCTC".

Prof Akosa said it was imperative that Ghana obtained baseline data on the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes toward tobacco and an assessment of other influences that might make the youth susceptible to tobacco use in the future.