ATN Commemorates World No Tobacco Day

The Anti Tobacco Network (ATN) Botswana joined the rest of the world in commemorating the annual World No Tobacco Day, under the theme ‘Protecting Youth from Industry Manipulation and Preventing Them from Tobacco

and Nicotine Use’. For the first time in history, the day was observed without any gathering due to COVID-19 regulations of social distancing. It was also commemorated for the first time without the sale of any tobacco products in Botswana, due to the ban on the sale and importation of tobacco products by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19. “The Anti Tobacco Network (ATN) therefore urges all smokers to use this opportunity to quit smoking for good or seek help from the nearest health facilities if they are unable to quit on their own,” the statement from ATN emphasised. “This year’s theme aims at highlighting how the tobacco industry targets young people around the world with appealing and flavoured tobacco products such as Hubbly Bubbly and e-cigarettes that lure children into a lifetime of addiction. With health experts warning that smoking and vaping can worsen COVID-19, there has never been a better time to stop the industry’s harmful practices. In addition, the campaign will provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics. This is especially important right now as studies show that smokers have a higher risk for a severe case of coronavirus.”