The Government of Sierra Leone has placed a general ban on public smoking in every part of the country, making it unlawful to smoke in public places, with defaulters liable to be fined and/or impressed.
Director at the Directorate of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Santigie Sesay said the move is following the enactment of the Tobacco and Nicotine Act in 2022 and that the goal is to protect the public against the harmful effects of tobacco.
He said though Tobacco is a legal product but oneโs right to smoke should not put anotherโs health at risk, stating that in Sierra Leone, Tobacco use is a major public concern in which 18% of men and 3% of women aged 15-49 years estimated to be Tobacco users, despite increased awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco.
While giving the impact of tobacco smoking, Dr. Sesay said that tobacco kills half of all its users, emphasizing that tobacco is the leading cause of cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes, adding that it itโs a motivating factor for infertility , miscarriage, bad breath and high blood pressure.
โGlobally, tobacco causes over 2 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases each year and 1 in 10- heart disease deaths are linked to tobacco while second-hand smoking accounts for 900 thousand premature deaths each yearโ. Said Dr. Sesay.
โThe tobacco and nicotine Act is part of a broader strategy to regulate tobacco in the country thereby protecting the public to the risks and exposure to tobacco, including minors, non-smokers as well as pregnant womenโโฆ he continuedโฆ โWe are not trying to get people jailed, but to ensure public health and safety for all and the country stands to accrued billions of Leones from tobacco taxation alone,โ Dr. Sesay assured.
Talking on the popularization of the tobacco and nicotine Act, Dr. Sesay said that they are in the process of setting the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Council which will drive the popularization of the Act in collaboration with stakeholders at all levels.
The NCD Director concluded by calling all stakeholders for a concerted efforts to promote the risks and harmful effects of tobacco consumption as well as the Tobacco and Nicotine Act through awareness raising at every level.
This is a great move by the government. I pray that the law will be enforced to the letter. And to those who smoke tobacco, why risk your health for something which adds no value to your life? Save yourself.