Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Ghana’s Minister of Health, has called for a united front among African leaders to enforce stringent anti-smoking policies at the Second Africa Conference on Tobacco Control and Development held in Accra. He highlighted that tobacco use results in over 8.7 million deaths annually, with 1.3 million attributed to second-hand smoke exposure, emphasizing the urgent need for action to save lives and protect public health.
In his statement, read by Technical Advisor Dr. Darius Osei, Okoe-Boye stressed that the detrimental effects of tobacco extend beyond health, negatively impacting economies and the environment. He urged African nations to mobilize resources to overcome barriers hindering the implementation of tobacco control policies established under the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation, reiterated these sentiments, noting that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death globally. He warned that unless significant actions are taken, the number of smokers in Africa could more than double by 2030. Biteye pointed out alarming youth smoking rates, with prevalence among boys ranging from 8% to 43% and girls from 5% to 30%.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by tobacco marketing campaigns and called for robust policies to ban tobacco advertising. She urged countries to leverage technology and education to empower young people to make healthier choices.
The conference also focused on innovative financing methods for sustainable tobacco control initiatives and examined the intersection between environmental changes and tobacco use. Participants discussed strategies to combat emerging tobacco products and the importance of integrating tobacco control into broader development agendas.
With 50 out of 55 African Union member states having ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is a commitment to tackling this public health crisis. However, leaders recognize that sustained efforts are crucial to reversing the rising trend of tobacco use across the continent.
