Centre for Trade Policy and Development - CTPD in partnership with the Centre for Primary Care Research - CPCR have today launched a campaign dubbed “Save Zambia from Tobacco” aimed at advocating for strong Tobacco Control policies to protect public health in Zambia.
Speaking during the launch CTPD Executive Director Isaac Maipopo stated that there is need for government through the ministry of health to ensure that laws are enacted that shall help curb the vise of the growing use of tobacco among young people and in turn save many that are dying due to tobacco related diseases.
Mr. Mwaipopo has since appealed to the youths to desist from the use of tobacco as it is harmful to health.
According to the Research findings over 7,000 Zambians die annually due to tobacco related diseases with the youths and adolescents being the most at risk, furthermore the recent global youth tobacco survey, revealed that consumption of tobacco is increasing among adolescents and youths due to easy accessibility and affordability of tobacco products.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco use undermines progress made in social and economic development and creates hardship for the millions of people in the world who live in poverty, the majority of whom are women.
Zambia joins the rest of the world in commemorating the world tobacco day on 31st May 2023 under the theme “We need food, Not Tobacco”.
The civil societies in the fight against tobacco are optimistic that the campaign will help in galvanizing the necessary support that the Tobacco Control Bill needs for it’s enactment in into law during this upcoming sitting following its approval in principle on the 30th of January 2023 with benefits that it will help reduce the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Zambia.
The launch that took place a Kuku grounds in Lusaka attracted youths and women from within kuku compound and the sounding areas.
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