The
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with partners yesterday
launched the Tobacco Control Act 2016 and the celebration of the World No
Tobacco Day awards, held at the Arch 22 in Banjul.
In
her launching statement, Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, Minister of Health and Social
Welfare, explained that the complexities surrounding tobacco use as well as the
huge detrimental effects it has on the socio economic development, required
concerted action from across the different sectors in government as well as the
private sector institutions, civil society, individuals, communities and
organisations including the United Nations system to tackle the tobacco burden.
She
disclosed that in The Gambia tobacco use constitutes the most significant risk
factor for non-communicable disease.
She
said despite the complications enumerated above the prevalence of smoking in
The Gambia still is high, particularly among male adolescent.
For
his part, Prof. Jean-Marie Dangou, WHO country representative, said as they
celebrate these achievements and the launching of tobacco control Act, it would
be useful to draw the attention to the fact that the fight against tobacco was
not yet over in the new Gambia.
He
noted that tobacco use has ruined, and continues to ruin the health of people,
who are mostly youth in their prime years for economic productivity.
“This
is not a surprise to us as The Gambia has always been in the forefront in
tobacco control, having won this prestigious awards nine times since 2000,” he
said.
He noted that it was worth celebrating these
great achievements as The Gambia this year has won both categories of the world
no-tobacco day award.
Dr.
Jim Arinaitwe, center manager CTCA, said tobacco smoke don’t affects smokers
alone but also affects others through second hand smoke, noting that it was
important to pay attention to the fact that the fight against tobacco was not
yet over.
He
thanked the stakeholders and urged them to work together in the fight against
tobacco control and elimination in The Gambia territory.
Awa
Sillah-Njie, deputy Mayor of Banjul thanked the organisers for choosing her
region to host this historic event in tobacco control in The Gambia.
She
also thanked the Center for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) and WHO AFRO who
have contributed immensely to the success of the launching of Tobacco Control
Act.
