CSOs raise alarm over rising tobacco and shisha smoking among women
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST), Health Conscious Africa, Uganda Health Communication Alliance, Africa Tobacco Control Alliance, Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance, and the Food and Drug Authority have raised concerns over the rising smoking of tobacco and shisha among the youth and women in Africa.
During a webinar session under the theme “Rising Trends in Emerging Tobacco and Nicotine Products in Africa – The Need for Youth-led Action & Regional Collaboration”, Dr. Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng, Director, Tobacco and Substances of Abuse Directorate at the FDA, indicated that indeed, shisha use is gradually rising, “with a 7.8% prevalence rate and 44% of users being women, signalling growing popularity among youth and females”.
She added that Second Hand Smoke (SHS) exposure is still widespread in workplaces, affecting 15.2% of men and 13.3% of women.
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She revealed that most e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing brains of teens, kids and fetuses in women who vape while pregnant.
In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette vapour includes potentially harmful substances such as diacetyl (a chemical linked to a serious lung disease), cancer-causing chemicals, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
The CSOs also expressed concern over how these toxic contaminants and non-users nearby risk secondhand exposure.
The liquid used in e-cigarettes, according to her, can be dangerous aside from its intended use. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing or absorbing the liquid through their skin or eyes.
A report by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) reveals that 8.8% of students aged 13–15 use tobacco, and 4.9% use e-cigarettes or vapes, with near-equal usage among boys (4.9%) and girls (5.0%).
These trends underline the urgent need for targeted prevention, especially among young people and emerging nicotine product users.
E-cigarettes have been linked to thousands of cases of serious lung injury, some resulting in death. While the exact cause is still not confirmed, the CDC recommends that people not use e-cigarettes.
Mr. Labram M. Musah, National Coordinator for GhNCDA, therefore, called on stakeholders in all African countries to ban these hazardous substances.
He also called on law enforcement agencies to undertake swoop operations to identify and seize illicit tobacco products in hotspot areas.