World No Tobacco Day: Stakeholders push for tougher tobacco regulations

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Tobacco Control Association has called on the government to expedite the enactment of a strong Tobacco Control Law that aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in order to prevent the growing use of new nicotine products among young people.

Speaking today in Dar es Salaam during the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day, the Association’s Executive Director, Lutgard Kokulinda Kagaruki, said that the nation is losing its youthful workforce because of tobacco use.

“Currently, new tobacco products, including shisha, electronic cigarettes, and others, are everywhere and are directly targeting young people. Companies are very clever—they add flavors such as chocolate and ice cream to mask the harshness of nicotine. As a result, when young people smoke, they smell pleasant aromas and think they are only inhaling flavors rather than tobacco, yet they still suffer the same harmful effects associated with tobacco use,” said Lutgard.

Meanwhile, Dr John Gamaliel, Projects Director at the organization PATH, said that physical exercise helps improve health and prevent non-communicable diseases. He urged the public to exercise regularly and avoid tobacco and tobacco-related products. He added that about 75% of young people do not engage in physical exercise due to modern lifestyles, contributing to a significant increase in non-communicable diseases.

For his part, Dr. Waziri Ndonde emphasized that exercise is important for maintaining good health and helps people avoid the influence of tobacco use and other harmful substances.

Participants in the event, Lucy Erick and Mathias Kivoyo, said that society is losing the young workforce that represents the nation’s future because of tobacco use, and therefore young people should avoid using tobacco.