Afrigather Pretoria ‒ Tobacco consumption in Africa presents complicated public well being, financial and environmental challenges and requires a multisectoral method to prevention and management. Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf of the Africa Centre for Tobacco Business Monitoring and Coverage Analysis (ATIM) on the College of Pretoria discusses tobacco management measures in Africa.
What are the tobacco consumption traits in Africa?
Tobacco consumption in Africa varies throughout the continent however typically presents important public well being challenges. Whereas smoking charges in some African international locations stay comparatively low in comparison with the worldwide common, tobacco use is steadily rising, notably amongst younger individuals and weak populations. The components contributing to this pattern embody aggressive advertising by tobacco firms, weak tobacco management insurance policies and cultural acceptance of smoking in some communities.
Moreover, smokeless tobacco use, similar to chewing tobacco and snuff, is prevalent in sure areas, contributing to general tobacco consumption. These merchandise typically escape regulation and could also be perceived as much less dangerous, resulting in their widespread use.
The financial burden of tobacco-related diseases is substantial in Africa and locations pressure on already restricted well being care sources. Furthermore, tobacco farming in some African international locations contributes to environmental degradation and labour exploitation.
What tobacco management measures exist in Africa?
Africa has made important progress in tobacco management, particularly since 2000. World Well being Group (WHO)’s Framework Conference on Tobacco Management (FCTC) entered into drive in 2005 and spurred many international locations to accentuate their tobacco management efforts, marking a significant change in consciousness and motion throughout the continent.
Key insurance policies that embody smoke-free legal guidelines, bans on tobacco promoting, promotion and sponsorship, introduction of warning labels and smoking cessation programmes, have been developed. Nevertheless, the enforcement of those insurance policies stays a major problem.
Bans on promoting, promotion and sponsorship have seen extra traction, with larger enforcement, whereas public smoking bans are much less persistently enforced. Smoking cessation programmes are much less widespread, with only some international locations providing nationwide pointers and offering “give up recommendation” to all people who smoke.
Taxation, which is a coverage with potential for important affect, has not been totally leveraged. Solely Mauritius has met the advisable guideline of taxation comprising 75% of the retail value. Different international locations fall quick, with South Africa at 50% and a few international locations beneath 40%, which makes tobacco comparatively low cost.
What are the obstacles to the present tobacco management measures?
In Africa, tobacco management measures face important obstacles rooted in financial dependence on the tobacco and the tobacco business, notably in international locations the place tobacco farming is a significant supply of overseas income. Multinational tobacco firms wield appreciable financial energy and leverage it to affect authorities insurance policies, typically diluting or obstructing tobacco management laws. The international locations from which the most important multinational firms originate do little to carry firms to account outdoors of their very own borders. Due to this fact, most fragile states in Africa with weak governance wrestle to implement rules successfully, worsening the issue.
This subsequently results in points round illicit markets. If international locations have a weak regulatory framework, it turns into simpler for illicit buying and selling which undermines tobacco management and the merchandise grow to be even cheaper. There are additionally discrepancies in coverage between international locations within the area, which allows illicit cross-border buying and selling. That is why we’d like harmonization of coverage throughout the area.
Moreover, social acceptance of tobacco use, fuelled by business advertising efforts, perpetuates the cycle of smoking initiation, particularly amongst younger individuals. Restricted public consciousness campaigns and academic initiatives have didn’t counter business misinformation concerning the dangers of tobacco use. Moreover, the well being system’s lack of ability to supply sufficient smoking cessation providers additional hampers efforts to fight tobacco use.
Addressing these obstacles requires prioritizing tobacco management, strengthening regulatory frameworks together with stopping tobacco business interference with coverage course of, rising public consciousness and enhancing entry to cessation providers throughout the healthcare system.
How can tobacco management be scaled up?
General, a multifaceted method involving worldwide cooperation, regional harmonization of insurance policies, sturdy laws, public consciousness and analysis is required to scale up tobacco management efforts in Africa.
Worldwide cooperation and collaboration are paramount, particularly in countering tobacco business interference. Non-governmental organizations can play a vital function in supporting governments going through business stress.
WHO has offered important pointers to international locations that in any other case don’t have any start line for measure. Organisations similar to Marketing campaign for Tobacco-Free Youngsters supplies authorized help to international locations going through litigation or threats from the tobacco business, whereas ATIM supplies coaching in monitoring tobacco business with the goal of countering tobacco business interference in coverage course of.
As well as, public consciousness campaigns are very important however ought to be complemented by sturdy laws and enforcement. Therefore political dedication and advocacy are important, requiring help from not solely WHO, but additionally World Commerce Group, World Financial institution and others.
The exclusion of tobacco merchandise from free commerce agreements inside Africa and different items affecting public well being can be essential in scaling up tobacco management.
Lastly, we’d like analysis and native information to judge the affect of tobacco management insurance policies successfully and supply contextual proof for his or her effectiveness.
