Read articles from Africa

January 06, 2026 by environewsnigeria.com

In 2026, Africa faces a critical decision on tobacco harm reduction policies. Despite strengthening tobacco control measures, smoking remains dominant. African governments must choose to enable safer alternatives or regulate all nicotine equally. The tension between traditional control and harm reduction approaches is growing. Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia face key decisions on regulating novel nicotine products. Risk-proportionate regulation could lead to decreased smoking rates and healthcare costs. The continent's public health narrative now focuses on accelerating harm reduction alongside tobacco control efforts to combat smoking effectively.

December 17, 2025 by guardian.ng

BAT West & Central Africa emphasizes Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) as vital for adult smokers, offering science-based alternatives like heated tobacco systems and nicotine pouches. Although quitting entirely is ideal, many struggle to do so, making harm reduction a practical approach to reduce exposure to harmful toxins from smoking. Dr. Puddicombe stresses the importance of responsibly implementing THR to protect minors and advocates for evidence-based policies and collaboration across stakeholders. THR can lower smoking-related diseases and costs, benefitting public health. Puddicombe calls for regulatory environments aligned with global health practices to support harm reduction and minimize risks associated with tobacco use.

November 24, 2025 by dailyfriend.co.za

The COP11 in Geneva convenes to discuss tobacco control, yet critics emphasize the lack of individual rights in global health policy decisions. Foreign influences, like Bloomberg Philanthropies, are accused of promoting draconian measures that infringe on personal freedoms in South Africa's Tobacco Bill. Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf's advocacy for stringent controls aligns with international agendas, raising concerns over bodily autonomy and coercion. The narrative questions the intentions behind foreign-funded anti-tobacco campaigns, urging a balanced approach that respects individual choices and harm reduction strategies.

November 20, 2025 by gfn.tv

Nigeria is experiencing increasing health impacts from smoking, and experts argue that harm reduction—not prohibition—is key to saving lives. In this GFN News episode, Joanna Junak interviews Uche Olatunji and Yusuf Adebisi on the major barriers to tobacco harm reduction in Nigeria, including widespread misinformation about nicotine and a lack of educational resources. They discuss community outreach, science-based alternatives, and the critical roles of universities and the media in shifting public perception. Learn how evidence-based harm-reduction strategies can help Nigerians make safer, informed decisions.

November 03, 2025 by citizen.digital

In Kenya, there is high awareness of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) with 85% of respondents believing that promoting safer alternatives can help smokers quit traditional cigarettes. Additionally, 63% feel the government should conduct campaigns to encourage the switch to safer alternatives, recognizing the public health benefits.

October 21, 2025 by iol.co.za

Industry representatives say that expanding access to smoke-free products could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths as the government finalises new tobacco legislation. However, the high cost of such alternatives remains a major concern. South Africa has over 8.6 million smokers, and smoking causes around 32,000 deaths each year, according to Tobacco Control Data. Companies like Philip Morris International (PMI) argue that smoke-free products such as nicotine pouches could play a crucial role in cutting smoking-related deaths.

October 20, 2025 by leadership.ng

Experts in Nigeria are advocating for adopting Sweden’s harm reduction model to curb smoking. Instead of total eradication, the approach promotes safer alternatives like vaping. They urge the government to implement a national framework with regulation, public education, and data-driven policies to reduce smoking-related diseases.

October 20, 2025 by leadership.ng

Experts in Nigeria are advocating for adopting Sweden’s harm reduction model to curb smoking. Instead of total eradication, the approach promotes safer alternatives like vaping. They urge the government to implement a national framework with regulation, public education, and data-driven policies to reduce smoking-related diseases.

October 15, 2025 by allafrica.com

Misinformation about nicotine causing cancer persists among the public and medical professionals, as highlighted by Professor David Khayat in a Rutgers-led study. Despite decades of using nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation, misconceptions remain. Khayat emphasizes lifestyle factors like diet and exposure to carcinogens in the prevalence of cancer. He advocates for oncologists to educate on Tobacco Harm Reduction, emphasizing tobacco's significant role in cancer mortality. The economic burden of tobacco-related cancers in Africa is a growing concern due to rising smoking rates. Khayat urges proactive measures to prevent a looming cancer epidemic on the continent.

October 03, 2025 by nilepost.co.ug

The Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA) has warned that “unregulated” e-cigarettes and tobacco products are increasingly entering Uganda, posing serious public health risks. Richard Baguma, UHCA’s national coordinator, said the proliferation of these products is driven in part by weak regulatory enforcement and inadequate taxation. Speaking during a Media Orientation on Tobacco Taxation organised by UHCA, Baguma noted that some products are deliberately designed to evade detection and appeal to young people.