Namibia: Enforcement of Tobacco Act Coming
Speaking at a training workshop on the enforcement of the Tobacco Products Control Act, Haingura said that according to the 2008 Namibia Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 31 per cent of students currently use tobacco products. According to the Deputy Health Minister, this evidence makes a compelling case for the implementation of the Tobacco Act.
The training workshop which started last Tuesday and ended two days later, aimed to provide the participants with knowledge on the Act and to train them on the enforcement tools which include inspections, penalties, litigation and reporting obligations
Also present was Dr Magda Rubalo, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative for Namibia, who said that legislation such as the Tobacco Act is based on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This is the world's first public health treay under the WHO, and requires all member states to protect their populations from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Participants at the workshop represented various Government Ministries such as health, defense, labour, safety and security, information, and works and transport. Public institutions such as the Polytechnic of Namibia and the City of Windhoek, as well as a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were also represented.
Haingura said that the Act provides for the reduction in demand for and supply of tobacco products, as well as protection from exposure to tobacco smoke. It further includes provisions for putting in place "evidence-based comprehensive tobacco control strategies at all levels of Government including prevention, protection and cessation initiatives," the Deputy Health Minister said.
Rubalo said that evidence has shown that the key to smoke free air is comprehensive legislation and effective enforcement.
Following the training workshop, an enforcement plan will be developed, which the Deputy Health Minister said, would bring to light issues which have not been researched, thought through, or on which there is no agreement
The Tobacco Act also makes provision for the appointment of officers to carry out enforcement responsibilities. Haingura expressed her satisfaction with this, as she said that current institutions and agencies such as the police and local municipalities may not be sufficient in this regard.
The Deputy Health Minister noted that she was pleased by the presence of NGOs at the workshop, and indicated that civil society has a vital role to play at all stages in the implementation and enforcement of smoke-free air laws.
The workshop identified June 15 2011 as the deadline for a number activities relating to the Tobacco Act, namely, the endorsement of the regulation, as well as the launching of the Tobacco Products Control Committee and the appointment of its secretariat. Furthermore, the launch of the Tobacco Control Fund and the appointment of the Tobacco Control Inspectors have also been set for June 15.
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