………………….as TI targets million youth and children
By Chapala Chikoyi
As I walked on the streets of Sikanze Police Camp, I noticed a young man wearing a blue tracksuit, emitting a white cloudy smoke from a sisha pen.
I introduced myself, and he shared that he uses the pen as a lifestyle choice and harm reduction to conventional tobacco, which he bought at Kasumbalesa border.
The young man, a recent graduate and mobile police officer, said, “I don’t smoke cigarettes, but just use this sisha pen… we shared the cost of $50 with my three friends when guarding Kasumbalesa border post.”
This encounter illustrates the reality on the ground, where emerging tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular, especially among youth.
According to the Centre for Trade Policy Development (CTPD) M & E specialist, who was featured on Metro FM Zambia’s Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) radio programme, “Emerging tobacco products pose a greater risk to the youth in Zambia.” The expert emphasized the need for more research and public education on the dangers of these products.
CTPD and CPCR are renowned for their expertise in tobacco control research, and their insights provide valuable context to the issue. The CTPD M & E specialist’s comments on Metro FM Zambia’s platform highlight the urgency of addressing the growing popularity of emerging tobacco products among Zambian youth.
As Zambia struggles to curb the rising tide of tobacco-related illnesses, a closer look reveals a complex web of influence and exploitation. The tobacco industry’s significant economic footprint and strategic lobbying have hindered efforts to implement comprehensive control measures, leaving vulnerable populations – particularly youth and porous border towns – exposed to the deadly consequences of tobacco use.
With Zambia losing over 2.2 billion Kwacha in treating tobacco-related illnesses and 7,142 lives lost annually, the need for effective tobacco control measures is urgent. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which Zambia signed over 16 years ago, remains unimplemented, leaving the country vulnerable to the tobacco industry’s tactics.
Meanwhile, emerging tobacco products, such as heated tobacco products, shisha, chewable tobacco, pouches, flavored lozenges, and e-cigarettes, are being introduced to the Zambian market without adequate regulation, further complicating the country’s tobacco control efforts.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products pose challenges for tobacco control. The WHO emphasizes that vaping is a gateway to smoking, with people who vape being five times more likely to become regular cigarette smokers.
The tobacco industry is using new strategies to fuel its multi-billion-dollar turnover, flooding markets with new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, which it sells as “smoke-free”, “less harmful”, “cleaner”, and “safer” than their conventional counterparts.
While the industry claims these products can be used as effective cessation aids, the truth is that they typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that can have harmful impacts on brain development and long-term consequences, particularly for children and adolescents.
Furthermore, the environmental impact of tobacco products cannot be ignored. Jumbe Ngoma, a former World Bank Communication Officer and now a consultant and environment defender, emphasized the need to protect the environment from the harmful effects of tobacco. “Tobacco has contributed to land degradation, eco-destruction, and water pollution.
From growing to end products, cigarette butts have contributed to blockages of drainage and flooding. We need to protect and safeguard the environment. We have to raise awareness on the dangers of these emerging tobacco products, gadgets, and how they are disposed of, where, and what harms they contribute to our ecosystem,” Ngoma said.
The Zambian government must take immediate action to address the growing threat of emerging tobacco products. This includes implementing comprehensive tobacco control measures, such as banning the sale of tobacco products to minors, enforcing smoke-free laws, and increasing public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.
In addition, the government must work to strengthen regulations around the importation and sale of emerging tobacco products. This includes ensuring that these products are subject to the same rigorous testing and approval processes as conventional tobacco products.
The fight against tobacco use in Zambia requires a multi-faceted approach that involves government, civil society, and the private sector. By working together, we can protect the health and well-being of Zambian youth and create a tobacco-free future for our country
