Anti-tobacco advocacy groups have called on African governments to safeguard children from the harmful influence of the tobacco industry through robust public health policies and legislation.
The appeal was made during a webinar commemorating the 2024 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), themed “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.”
The event, organized by the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Vital Voices for Africa (VVA), and Being Africa, brought together journalists from 14 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and Kenya.
He stressed the WHO FCTC’s provisions, such as bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as critical measures for protecting youth from tobacco-related harms.
“Children’s rights must be protected at all costs, especially in the face of aggressive marketing tactics employed by the tobacco industry.”
“Governments must prioritize public health policies and resist tobacco industry interference,” Otieno stated.
He called for comprehensive efforts from advocacy groups, media, and government stakeholders to address weak enforcement structures and lack of political will, stressing the need for collaborative action to expose tobacco industry tactics and promote evidence-based tobacco control policies.
Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Phillip Jakpor, in a welcome address stressed the gravity of tobacco use, noting that it is the most preventable cause of death globally.
He warned that tobacco is projected to claim more than 8 million lives annually by 2030, disproportionately impacting low and middle-income countries, and stressed the importance of proactive measures to counter tobacco industry influence and protect children from being targeted as ‘replacement smokers.’
Phillip Jakpo pointed to research indicating that youth experimentation with tobacco is significantly driven by industry marketing and promotion.
He underscored the pivotal role of media in exposing industry malfeasance and catalyzing policy interventions.
“Our governments must prioritize protecting our children with proactive measures to counter tobacco industry influence,” he asserted.
Paxina Phiri, Communication Officer at the Center for Primary Care Research provided a situation report on Zambia, emphasizing the critical importance of understanding the issue.
She disclosed that children in Zambia can easily access cigarettes near schools, kiosks, and homes, attributing the problem to affordability and aggressive marketing tactics.
Phiri called for responsible reporting to counteract the glamorization of tobacco use and stressed the tobacco industry’s insidious influence on media platforms through advertising and sponsorship.
Despite these challenges, she emphasized the potential of effective reporting to drive positive change and support public health initiatives, citing Zambia’s impending enactment of a tobacco control bill as a crucial step.
Oluchi Joy Robert of Tobacco Control Africa presented Nigeria’s struggles against the tobacco industry’s pervasive influence on youth.
She underscored the industry’s deliberate targeting of children through appealing packaging and cheap vape pens.
“They use appealing packaging to lure young people, with disposable vape pens often cheaper than cigarettes. We cannot afford to stand idly by as the tobacco industry preys on our children,” she declared and urged stakeholders to unite in the fight against youth addiction.
In his presentation, the Country Lead for the DaYTA Programme at Development Gateway, Mohammed Maikudi, outlined Nigeria’s efforts in addressing rising tobacco use among youth.
He stressed the critical role of data in informing policy decisions. He underscored the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) aimed at bridging the data gap on tobacco use in African countries.
“Accurate data on tobacco use among African youth is essential for regional tobacco control efforts,” Maikudi asserted, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data collection, including previously overlooked demographics such as out-of-school adolescents and females.
He stressed the initiative’s focus on comprehensive data collection, including previously overlooked demographics such as out-of-school adolescents and females.
“Accurate data on tobacco use among African youth is essential for regional tobacco control efforts,” Maikudi asserted and revealed staggering statistics, including findings from a cross-sectional study indicating high rates of adolescent tobacco use in certain African countries.
Caleb Ayong, Executive Director of VVA, lamented the detrimental impact of youth tobacco use on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG).
According to him, nine out of ten smokers initiate tobacco use during adolescence, stressing the industry’s deliberate targeting of young, impressionable minds.
He pointed to aggressive marketing strategies, such as cigarette advertisements near schools and promotion through influencers and youth-centric events.
Ayong called for proactive engagement in exposing tobacco industry malpractices and raising public awareness about the consequences of tobacco use.
He stressed the crucial role of journalists in holding the tobacco industry accountable and advocating for policy measures to curb youth tobacco use.
“Journalists must remain vigilant in their pursuit of tobacco control initiatives and resist intimidation tactics employed by the tobacco industry,” Ayong urged, encouraging resilience and unwavering commitment to truth-telling.