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According to health institutions, tobacco smoke is the main source of indoor air pollution (homes, cars, etc.), containing more than 4,000 chemicals, some of which are irritants, toxic and more than 70 of which are classified as carcinogenic. In Burkina Faso, the sale of cigarettes is regulated for these health-damaging reasons (healthy images on packaging, prohibition of contact with children, etc.). Burkina Faso, a party to the International Tobacco Convention, is stepping up efforts to protect the population from the harmful effects of tobacco products. It is with this desire that the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education (DPES) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has held discussions with civil society (from July 25 to 28, 2024 in Koudougou, in the central region) to combat smoking and develop a strategy to make public places in Burkina Faso smoke-free, as required by law.
The consultation aimed to gain the support and participation of civil society in order to raise public awareness and awareness campaigns on the ban on smoking in public places and public transport. To this end, the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education (DPES) discussed and compiled a list of achievements made by Burkina Faso in the fight against smoking, which showed that civil society has always been a fighter, both in By text and taking combat actionDespite many achievements, including displays, images on cigarette packs, increased taxes, etc. Many challenges remain to be overcomeincluding revising certain regulatory provisions to take into account deficiencies related to the evolution of the actual situation in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of actions.
The meeting followed another one that brought together representatives of various ministries and a special delegation from the city of Ouagadougou.
The consultations therefore enabled stakeholders to revisit data, update them and develop new guidelines, especially for the establishment of non-smoking areas in public places and public transport areas. Let us recall, by the way, that for this plan, Burkina Faso applied for and received funding from the Fund for Tobacco Policy Action in Africa (TOPAFA), Management Sciences for Health.
In fact, in Burkina Faso, according to the STEPS survey, the smoking rate among people aged 18-69 in 2021 was 13.6%, with one in five adults smoking on average. Among subjects aged 18 to 69, passive exposure to tobacco smoke at home and at work was 28.3% and 28.6%, respectively. Of the 4,800 deaths from tobacco in Burkina Faso each year, 1,300 are non-smokers (i.e. victims of passive smoking, WHO ATLAS 2017).
Eric Doyé (left) and Dr. Narcisse Naré, Project Manager at the Ministry of Health, moderated the discussion.
Several consequences associated with tobacco should be remembered. They range from physical effects (health) to economic effects, including effects on the environment and social life. According to experts, 85% of lung cancer is attributed to tobacco. It is also associated with the development of cancers of other organs such as the bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and is considered the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “Chronic bronchial obstruction occurs in about 10% to 15% of smokers. Tobacco is one of the risk factors for hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic arterial disease of the lower limbs and erectile dysfunction. For women, smoking and taking birth control pills increases the risk of stroke by 20 times, and this association is strongly advised against. Smoking leads to decreased fertility, increased spontaneous abortions and increased perinatal and neonatal mortality. The birth weight is low, below average, about 150 to 250 grams. Withdrawal syndrome can be observed in children at birth. Sudden infant death syndrome is common when the child is exposed to mother’s smoking in the womb. Leukemia and brain tumors are common in children exposed in utero (in the womb, editor’s note). Sexual disorders (male impotence, female menstrual disorders, infertility)”, we can learn from Eric Doyé and Moumouni Ouédraogo of DPES. In addition to these misconducts, there are eye conditions, the appearance of cataracts and the risk of blindness, skin damage, premature wrinkles and skin diseases (psoriasis), the lecturer learned.
Moreover, in addition to regular smokers, the effects of tobacco also affect non-smokers. What experts call “passive smoking”, “second-hand smoke”, “involuntary smoking” or even “environmental tobacco smoke” is the act of involuntarily inhaling the smoke produced when smokers burn tobacco products. This happens at home, in the workplace, in public places, on transport, etc. Exposure to second-hand smoke causes almost the same damage. That is why the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through DPES, and civil society organizations fighting tobacco are refining the strategy for public places and public transport.
Moumuni Ouedraogo
“We must also work to protect young people in the region. In principle, in Burkina Faso’s laws, even on cigarette packets, it is stated that children under 18 are prohibited from selling and paying for cigarettes. It is therefore unacceptable that a father sends a child under 18 to pay for cigarettes on his behalf, knowing that the child is imitating the parents. It is a real cry from the heart for parents not to send their children to buy cigarettes and not to have children under 18 selling cigarettes in stores (when the father is not around, it is the children who handle tobacco products). Under the law, no one is allowed to smoke anymore,” asks Moumouni Ouédraogo.
Adam Zango
“Public places in Burkina Faso are smoke-free. This is something that must be remembered,” insists Adama Zango, coordinator of Africa Against Tobacco (ACONTA), before explaining that compliance with the ban helps improve the living environment, work and use of the population.
“We do this not only to satisfy the fact that Burkina Faso has signed international conventions on this issue, but to protect public health and everyone’s concerns,” said the first manager of ACONTA, inviting everyone not to smoke in his home as well.
OL
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