Today Marks the 2016
"World no Tobacco Day".
A day set by the World
Health Organization to place critical emphasis on the deplorable effect the use
of Tobacco has on the health of humans.
As a person, I am much
worried about the fact that Tobacco usage is far from becoming alien in the
society, with citizens less concerned about its resulting negative health
consequences.
It is actually amazing
the number of our cherished youth and students who smoke in this country.
Indeed, the fear still remains that smoking
affects every organ of the body; so one can imagine the health effect of having
to smoke from this tender age into the next life.
The constitution of Ghana
provides the Ghanaian the right to health and safety, and this right is
protected through the regulatory work of state institutions such as the Food
and Drugs Authority.
A Bill to provide
comprehensive legislation on public health was unanimously passed by Parliament
in July 2012.
The Tobacco Control
Measures of this Public Health Act among others prohibits smoking in public
places, bans advertising tobacco and tobacco products, and also prohibits
minors from selling, buying, or lighting tobacco products.
This bill by all
standards provides rich measures towards the realization of a tobacco free
society and particularly to protect the youth of this country.
Yes, stakeholder
institutions have made key strives towards the effective regulation of Tobacco
trade and usage, but, there is still a gap between where we are now and where
we need to be, so far as this course is concerned.
As a matter of fact, the
effective regulation and implementation of this act is needed more now than
ever.
We shouldn’t be seen and
heard only on world no tobacco days!!!
Stakeholders must rise
and protect the future of our youth!!!
Strategies towards the
anti-tobacco fight must be revised!!!
The tobacco control
Programme must be visible and have youth oriented programmes to save our
youth!!!!
Let’s together ensure a
tobacco free society to protect the youth of this country even as we mark the
World No Tobacco Day 2016.
God bless Ghana!!!
God bless us all!!!
Amoakohene
Frank
NUGS President Hopeful
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