By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma
Following the enactment of the Tobacco and Nicotine Act in 2022, the Director of the Directorate of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr Santigie Sesay, has said that public smoking is now banned in every part of Sierra Leone, making it unlawful to some in public places liable to fines and or impressment or both.
Dr Santigie reiterated that the goal is to protect the public against the harmful effects of tobacco, stating that though tobacco is a legal product, one’s right to smoke should not put another’s health at risk.
He referenced a study stating that in Sierra Leone, tobacco use is a major public concern, in which 18% of men and 3% of women aged 15-49 years are estimated to be tobacco users, despite increased awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco.
While giving the impact of tobacco smoking, Dr Sesay said that tobacco kills half of all its users, emphasizing that tobacco is the leading cause of cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes, adding that it’s a motivating factor for infertility, miscarriage, bad breath and high blood pressure. “Globally, tobacco causes over 2 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases each year, and 1 in 10- heart disease deaths are linked to tobacco, while second-hand smoking accounts for 900 thousand premature deaths each year”, Dr Sesay revealed.
“The Tobacco and Nicotine Act is part of a broader strategy to regulate tobacco in the country, thereby protecting the public from the risks and exposure to tobacco, including minors, non-smokers as well as pregnant women”… he continued… ‘We are not trying to get people jailed, but to ensure public health and safety for all, and the country stands to accrue billions of Leones from tobacco taxation alone”, Dr. Sesay assured.
Speaking on the popularization of the Tobacco and Nicotine Act, Dr. Sesay said that they are in the process of setting up the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Council, which will drive the popularization of the Act, in collaboration with stakeholders at all levels.
The NCD Director concluded by calling all stakeholders for a concerted effort to promote the risks and harmful effects of tobacco consumption, as well as the Tobacco and Nicotine Act through awareness raising at every level.
