African governments have been urged to adopt new strategies to reduce the public health threat caused by tobacco, as it leads to 8 million deaths annually on the continent.
Last week at the second Harm Reduction Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, health experts gathered to declare that tobacco use is one of the greatest public health threats in history.
The expert team includes oncologist Abdoul Kassé from the Senegal Cancer Institute, CEO Tendai Mhizha from Integra Africa, and Vivian Manyeki, Letlape Kgosi, Bernice Apondi, Joseph Magero, Jonathan Fell, Chimwemwe Ngoma and Clive Bates.
Experts reveal that all forms of tobacco are harmful, and smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide.
According to Kase, African governments, industries, and other stakeholders need to balance industry interests with public health.
The use of e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, and gum continues to be a source of confusion in the public health community and media, but there is evidence to suggest that the use of nicotine e-cigarettes and other less harmful products could be a solution.
Mhizha has issued a challenge to the media, urging them to engage with the community, influence behavior change and guide society to use less harmful products as a substitute for tobacco.
Apondi conducted a case study on Kenya, stating that initially reducing harm was a civil society issue, but the government has now begun to get involved.
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