Tobacco Control in Africa - TCA

About the new tobacco control law in Gabon

Gabonese advocate Thanguy NZUE OBAME has shared with us copies of the new tobacco control law, Loi 006/2013 enacted on August 21 2013, about the new tobacco control policies in Gabon ('portant instauration des mesures antitabac en République Gabonaise"). Below are a few immediate comments but a more complete analysis will take more time. Here is the post published on the FCTC site on November 13.

South Africa: Tobacco smoke pollution in the non-smoking section fo restaurants in Pretoria

This is a letter published in Tobacco Control Journal but unfortunately you have to subscribe to read the whole content. Still worth mentioning.

Liberia: Enforce Regulation Against Public Smoking

This Editorial in The News (from Monrovia) underlines the need for enforcement.

Seychelles: Impact of smoking ban in public places

A small assessment study in the Seychelles published in the Tobacco Control Journal.

Smoke-free spaces in Africa growing at a snail’s pace

Smoke-free spaces in Africa growing at a snail’s pace (from FCTC's site)

Global Smoke-Free Worksite Challenge: any initiative in Africa?

It comes from the Clinton Global Initiative via the Unfiltered blog of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. But for now I only see one pdf document without any contact. Anybody active in Africa for this challenge?

The WSJ health blog does not offer any link either.

Promoting smoke-free workplaces in Africa

In a recent post on the FCA website, Tih Ntiabang regrets that there are not more smoke-free workplaces and public places in Africa. He gives two examples: a stadium in Lubumbashi and the Conakri airport. I just read about a US PR company, Edelman, that is very active in promoting a smoke-free workplace. They even offer $2000 to each employee who quits smoking. Unfortunately they don't have an office in Africa. Maybe they still could help raise the awareness about this issue and increase the number and visibility of businesses that get smoke-free? What about an African directory of the smoke-free companies? An African smoke-free challenge?

Ghana: A study of secondhand smoke exposure in selected public places

This research is published in the March 2011 issue of the Tobacco Control Journal. Its conclusion:

" SHS levels were unacceptably high in public places in Ghana where smoking is allowed, despite a relatively low-smoking prevalence in the country. This is one of the first studies to ascertain SHS and hair nicotine in Africa. Levels were comparable to those measured in American, Asian and European countries without or before smoking bans. Implementing a comprehensive smoke-free legislation that protects workers and customers from exposure to secondhand smoke is urgently needed in Ghana."

Source: Tobacco Control Journal

Uganda: the ban on smoking in public places is not enforced

A letter from Isaac Eyalama explains how the 2004 law that bans smoking in public places is not implemented. 

Source: The New Vision

Newly discovered IDRC funded tobacco control projects: FCA funded for Technical Assistance to the ATSA teams (in August 2009)

This grant of CAD 291.100 is listed as starting August 1st 2009 (duration 12 months) but we only found about it now. The recipients appear to be the Global Smokefree Partnership, FCA and Healthbridge. FCA told us they received CAD 145.000 managed via GSP. Path Canada (HealthBridge since 2006) is also mentioned as a recipient. HealthBridge had partnered with IDRC to apply for the phase 2 of the Gates Foundation in July 2009 (ACS was selected).

The grant is to allow the partnership to help 6 country teams (Cameroon, Eritrea, Ghana, Malawi, Sénégal and Zambia). 

Ghana: We need a tobacco control law

This article by Jeorge Wilson Kingson of the Media Alliance on Tobacco Control was published January 21 on Ghana Web.

Sénégal: Iba Der Thiam dépose un projet de loi contre l’usage du tabac dans les lieux publics

Le député du Groupe Libéral et démocratique, Iba Der Thiam, propose une loi interdisant l’usage du tabac, sous toutes ses formes, dans tous les lieux publics.

Source: www.lesoleil.sn

Angola: University leader praises new smoking ban, asks for more media campaigns

The Principal of Lusiadas University of Angola (ULA) Mário Pinto de Andrade, Thursday here has defended, a greater diffusion by the state-owned and private mass media of law against public smoking, approved in July, 1st by the Cabinet Council.

Source: Angolapress portal

Angola: Government Sets Prohibition On Smoking in Public Places

The Cabinet Council approved Wednesday the decree establishing a ban on smoking in public places, as well as the creation of the Medical Emergency Institute of Angola.
Source: AllAfrica

Cartes des pays avec des lois sur l'interdiction de fumer

Sur le site de globalsmokefreepartnership  mais pour le moment uniquement en anglais.

Rachel Kitonyo's Acceptance Speech for the 2009 Judy Wilkenfeld Award International Tobacco Control Excellence

Picture Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Ever since I was a child, I have always known that I want to be a lawyer.

Lawyers to me then were this characters that I saw on TV who were glamorous, savvy, sweet talking people that I longed to emulate.

Somewhere inside me also was a passion for justice but the glamour came first

But there are defining moments in one’s life – moments that change the course of one’s path through life irrevocably. I would like to share three such moments with you.

Nigeria: how to implement the smoking ban in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Comfort Onche explains the situation:

Despite the ban on smoking in public places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by the former FCT Minister, Aliyu Moddibo, some smokers still tend to smoke publicly in the streets, thereby defying the anti-smoking campaign.

Source: AllAfrica

Gambia: an education forum about smokefree public places in the Central River Region

Source: AllAfrica

Ghana: the Government intends to ban smoking in public places

A statement from the Health Ministry of Ghana.
Source: Ghana internet