Read articles from Africa

May 07, 2024 by kenyans.co.ke

In April 2024, Kenya's Ministry of Health proposed graphic warnings for tobacco-free nicotine products like vapes and pouches, despite scientific evidence showing their lower risk compared to cigarettes. Public health advocates argue that misleading warnings could deter smokers from switching to safer alternatives. Research supports that nicotine alternatives are effective in smoking cessation, with vapes being twice as effective as traditional methods. The Ministry of Health is currently gathering public feedback on the proposed warnings, with concerns that misinforming smokers could prevent life-saving switches.

May 07, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com

Kenya's Ministry of Health is seeking public input on a plan requiring cigarette manufacturers to include graphic health warnings covering 80% of packaging. The initiative aims to educate about tobacco risks, discourage use, and reduce consumption. With 8.6% of Kenyans smoking in 2020, the government aims to cut this to under 5% by 2025. However, the tobacco industry argues the plan fails to differentiate between cigarettes and safer nicotine products like pouches. They advocate for separate regulations for tobacco and nicotine items.

April 26, 2024 by filtermag.org

Tobacco's cultural significance in Rwanda has decreased, but smoking rates remain at 10%, causing over 2,000 deaths yearly. Awareness and societal changes have led to a slight decline. More effort is needed to expand harm reduction options like nicotine vapes and educate healthcare providers. In a study of Rwandan medical students, 58% were aware of tobacco harm reduction, but knowledge on specific solutions was limited. Students showed willingness to learn about cessation strategies, highlighting the potential for progress in reducing smoking-related harms in Rwanda.

March 29, 2024 by moroccoworldnews.com

Morocco’s Minister of Health Khalid Aït Taleb has sounded the alarm on the rising trend of e-cigarette use among the country’s teenagers. Responding to a written question posed by the parliamentary member of the Justice and Development Party, Mustapha Ibrahim, Aït Taleb emphasized the urgent need to address this pressing public health concern. He cited data from a national study conducted in 2021, revealing that teenage girls aged 15 to 17 are the largest demographic of e-cigarette users, with a rate of 5%. Even among boys of the same age group, e-cigarette usage remains significant, standing at 2%.

March 05, 2024 by capitalfm.co.ke

Activists caution that the Kenyan Government's ban on vapes and nicotine pouches could worsen smoking-related harm. The Campaign for Safer Alternatives urges evidence-based policies, highlighting the reduced health risks of these products compared to cigarettes. Encouraging safer alternatives, like in the UK and Sweden, may be more effective in reducing smoking-related deaths. The group stresses the importance of regulating, not banning, these products to aid smokers in quitting and save lives.

February 23, 2024 by youtube.com

February 22, 2024 by the-star.co.ke

The Ministry of Health is updating the Tobacco Control Act to regulate nicotine products like e-cigarettes and pouches due to their popularity among Kenyan youth. The revisions aim to strengthen regulations and address gaps to protect public health. Dr. George Githuka highlighted the need to anticipate future tobacco products and enhance collaboration with partners. The WHO warns of the harmful impacts of tobacco on health and socio-economic well-being. The updates will also restructure the compensation fund. The current law mandates funding for tobacco control programs, which has not been implemented.

February 01, 2024 by filtermag.org

Dr. Kgosi Letlape has been a passionate and relentless activist on the side of “the underdog,” as he puts it, for most of his life. An ophthalmologist in South Africa, Letlape is the former chairman of the South African Medical Association and a co-founder of the Africa Harm Reduction Alliance. In our filmed interview, he told Filter how South Africa’s devastating HIV epidemic has profoundly changed him, shifting him from “not just activism of talking, but of action and making things happen.”

January 08, 2024 by businesstech.co.za

South Africa needs to strike a balance between the perspectives of both economists and health experts as to how tax rates should be determined for nicotine products, says Marius van Oordt, an expert in indirect taxation in developing countries. Over the past several years, the world has seen an evolution of tobacco and nicotine products, particularly evident in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS or e-cigarettes). To accommodate such a change, experts have been presenting contrasting views.

December 04, 2023 by businesstech.co.za

Gauteng residents are divided on the hotly contested draft Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, with businesses warning that implementing the new laws will have negative consequences for the country’s township economy. The Portfolio Committee on Health recently held three public hearings over the Bill in Gauteng, and much like the public engagement in Limpopo, the North West, and Mpumulanga, there was support and rejection of the Bill. The Bill broadly aims to introduce the following:

• Declare indoor public places and certain outdoor areas 100% smoke-free.
• Ban the sale of cigarettes through vending machines. [...]