By MacPherson Mukuka
Zambia on Friday May 30th,
2014 joined the rest of the world in commemorating world no tobacco day and
subsequently launched its first ever international tobacco control (ITC) policy
evaluation project National report.
The report which is
based on the 2012 survey findings is aimed at promoting evidence based
strategies to fight the global tobacco epidemic.
The launch was
preceded by a much past from north mead to Mulungushi conference centre where
the rest of the activities were held.
Speaking during the
launch, health deputy minister Chitalu Chilufya says tobacco is a risk factor
that is fueling the new epidemic of non communicable diseases.
Dr. Chilufya further
stated tobacco has of late caused a rise in the cost of providing health services
to the people due to an increase in the number of NCDs.
And ITC Zambia
evaluation project, principal investigator, Fastone Goma said in his
presentation on the finding from the ITC survey in Zambia that the country has
not done well in implementing policies on tobacco control.
Dr. Goma added that a
number of smokers are willing to stop smoking but are not motivated by the
price of tobacco, hence he called on the government to increase the tax on the
price of the commodity.
Meanwhile, ITC
evaluation project principle investigator, Prof. Geoffrey Fong in 2011 alone,
27 % of the deaths recorded were due to none communicable diseases which are as
a result of smoke.
And the epilepsy
association of Zambia expressed happiness at the launch of the report.
Association President
Antony Zimba said, Smoking has an effect on epileptic patients because it
hinders progress.
The theme on the day
was increase tobacco taxes to reduce tobacco smoking.
If you are a smoker,
you must be guilty of contributing to the death of over 600 thousand people in
the world every year, due to the smoke from your cigarette.
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