Rising tobacco consumption worries State

By NATION REPORTER GOVERNMENT is alarmed with rising tobacco consumption trends among young people, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary in Charge of Administration, Kennedy Malama has said.

Dr Malama said yesterday, Government is keen to ensure that Zambia domesticates the :orld Health Organisation (WHO) )ramework &onvention on 7obacco Control (FCTC).

He noted that tobacco was one of the greatest health threats the world was currently facing and Zambia was not an exception.

+e said Government was making efforts towards addressing challenges relating to tobacco use.

+e was speaking in Lusaka yesterday at the breakfast meeting on Findings of the Joint Needs Assessment of the :+2 )ramework Convention on tobacco control.

“According to the National State 6urvey , which we undertook as Zambia, the percentage of people who are currently smoking tobacco stands at 23% men and 2 % for women that’s very high, if you include those who are passively smoking, the percentage will go higher

“All tobacco use begins in childhood and adolescence, alarming for us as a country, is that tobacco consumption trends are rising among the young people.

³6ignificantly reducing tobacco use nationally is a central pillar to achieving Sustainable Development Goal No. 3.8 which encourages member countries to accelerate implementation of the WHO )ramework &onvention on 7obacco &ontrol. Zambia through the Ministry of Health remains committed to improving the health of its citizens,” Dr Malama said.

6peaking earlier, :+2 &ountry Representative Dr Nathan %akyaita called on the Government to put in place measures to monitor the effective and efficient functioning of the Tobacco taxation system, strengthen the smoke free policies and sign the protocol on illicit trade.