In a resolute call to action, celebrities in Ghana are being urged to reject offers that promote, advertise, or sponsor tobacco use or its substances in the country.
This, according to Rosemary Doe Sorkpor, the Regulatory Officer for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Central Region is one sure way tobacco use in the country can be minimized if not completely eradicated.
Sorkpor’s appeal seeks to raise awareness about the devastating health consequences associated with tobacco consumption and encourage collective efforts to combat this pervasive issue.
She said previously, Ghana was winning the fight against tobacco “then all of a sudden, shisha came in and all the youth started engaging in it”.
According to the 2017 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 8.9% of boys and 8.2% of girls, currently use tobacco products. Also, now, 7% of boys and 5.3% of girls smoke tobacco. 3.2% of boys and 2.3% of girls currently smoking cigarettes, and then 0.4% of boys and 1.7% of girls are smoking shisha.
“So, you realize that now the girls are even taking over the use of this tobacco product, and they think it’s a fashion,” says Rosemary Doe Sorkpor.
Speaking in an interview on the ATLANTIC WAVE, she expressed that the use of tobacco, shisha, and cigarette are the leading causes of cancer, heart diseases, low mental performance, complications in pregnancy, and lung diseases among others.
She, therefore, urged celebrities as well as health workers, parents, and the media to join in the fight against the use of tobacco in Ghana.
This she says can be done through education, nurturing, constant advice, and proper guidance.
While urging social media companies to prohibit the advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship by the nicotine and tobacco industries on their platforms, she also asked the film, television, or drama production companies to pledge not to depict tobacco use or cigarette use.
She said it should rather be anti-tobacco messages to educate the public.
“And then for parents and relatives, we want you to educate your children and adolescents on the harmful effect of nicotine and tobacco products. This will empower the children to reject any manipulation.”
She also made the following recommendations.
Health Workers
Now, health workers and health practitioners should provide children, adolescents, young adults, and their parents with updated information about the risk associated with the use of these products and empower the users to quit through the offer of brief cessation advice.
Schools
Schools must raise awareness of the dangers of initiating nicotine and tobacco product use. Adopt tobacco and e-cigarette-free campuses, refuse any form of sponsorship from the narcotic and tobacco industries, and prohibit representatives from their companies from speaking at school events and school camps.
Youth groups
The youth groups should organize local events to engage and educate their peers and build a movement for tobacco-free generation and also advocate for the adoption of effective tobacco control policies in their communities to curb and prevent the manipulation of nicotine and tobacco industries.
Government
The national or local government authorities should support the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies as outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
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Source: Enock Chanimbe/ATLFMNEWS
