by Adeola Akinremi (also in the Bulletin)
The soul of Africa is on the line as Big Tobacco recently matched plans
with action by opening manufacturing plants in Senegal, Mauritius and
other African countries.
Without a collective strong position at this meeting to checkmate the
attempted partitioning of Africa by the industry, the poorest Africans
nations will suffer.
The industry is exploiting weak legislation to do its massive marketing drive. The African continent is already beset by epidemics of disease, and African leaders cannot stand by and allow the tobacco industry to inflict the tidal wave of disease and death that tobacco will bring. The death toll from tobacco will rise greatly in Africa by 2020, if nothing concrete is done now.
The African leaders response to the issue of tobacco related diseases and deaths is at odds with the usual calls for action in the face of other epidemics.
There is chance now to stop this epidemic by taking a collective position. Africa needs to walk as one and follow the example of the European Union (EU). The African Union must rise to the occasion of preventing needless deaths through a common instrument that will ensure all African countries ratify and begin speedy implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
This COP-2 presents African delegates with an opportunity to walk the talk of making Africa a place to live without fear of a tobacco inspired epidemic.
The problem of illicit trade is one that Africa must combat and there is provision for this already under article 15.
Addressing the problems posed by illicit trade in tobacco products requires a comprehensive and cooperative multilateral approach. It is thus necessary for Africa to make active contribution that will drastically reduce smuggling of cigarettes into the continent and within the continent itself.
The delegates must take this opportunity once and for all to save the lives of young people who have access to the smuggled cigarettes sold at lower prices, making cigarettes available cheaply therefore increasing consumption and undermining efforts to keep young people, in particular, from smoking
A stitch in time saves nine, goes the popular saying, so it is time to stitch it in Africa now.
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