The Directorate of Health Promotion and Education under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Friday organized a one-day advocacy and sensitization meeting on tobacco control for youth leaders within the Greater Banjul Area. The meeting was held at the CIAM conference hall in Kanifing.
Speaking at the meeting, the director of Health Promotion and Education, Modou Njai, said it was meant to reflect on the prohibition of smoking. He explained that the main reason for targeting youth leaders is for them to go back to their various groups and sensitize them on the 1998 Smoking Act.
He remarked that youths play a key role in sensitizing their colleagues to stop smoking, noting that tobacco mostly affects young people. Njai also assured that his directorate will continue the sensitization programm in both the print and electronic media and at community level.
Presenting a paper on the 1998 Prohibition of Smoking Act in public places, Momodou Gassama, health promotion specialist at WHO country office, recalled that the prohibition of smoking in public places was passed by an Act of Parliament in 1998.
He explained that smoking in public places includes hospital, health centers, clinic and any other place where medical treatment is administered. Gassama also said that the act does not allow people to smoke in vehicles and public places. He urged people to stop smoking because it is not good for their health. He also urged the youth to intensify their campaign towards the prevention of tobacco control in the country.
Dr Abubacarr Jagne of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital said tobacco has a lot of health consequences on the life of the young people, while revealing that people have been smoking since the 17th Century.
Madi Jorbateh, deputy executive director at TANGO, said cigarette smoking is a self-esteem issue. He also noted that youths smoke due to peer group influence or pressure. He disclosed that in 2007 a survey was conducted in 25 lower and upper basic schools and about 2000 children were subjected to the survey and during this exercise it was discovered that most of the school going children smoke at an early stage. Jobarteh said this is a great cause for concern for the country, adding that smoking affects the physical development of people.
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