Interview with Elvina Majiwa on tobacco control, healthy living

By Peter Ochieng

In 2008, the World Health Organisation (WHO) named tobacco use as the world's single greatest preventable cause of death, since its use is a cause or risk factor for many deadly diseases, especially those affecting the heart, liver and lungs as well as many cancers.

It is on this backdrop that Elvina Majiwa, a tobacco control and health promotion champion embraced the role of sensitising Kenyans on the risks of tobacco use, geared towards promoting healthy living.

She shared her journey with us during an interview in Kisumu.

NR: You call yourself a tobacco control and health promotion champion, what does this mean in layman language?

EM: I work a lot with young people and various civil society organizations such as Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) and YIPAR Kenya (Youth In Power Africa Rise) to build capacity of young people so as to champion for strong policies, and to champion for prevention against tobacco use, because we believe in prevention.

I have represented Kenya in various international forums. Recently, we were in Accra, Ghana for the second tobacco control conference in Africa, where we had a lot of knowledge exchange geared towards strengthening policies and initiatives in the fight against tobacco use.

NR: For how long have you been doing this?

EM: I've been doing tobacco control advocacy, health promotion and mental health awareness for almost five years now.

NR: What attracted you to this course?

EM: I've seen the effects caused by the use of tobacco, nicotine and other drugs. It really saddens my heart. It saddens my heart to see someone who is addicted and therefore they are not productive, they are not able to work. I really desire to see a productive workforce in Kenya, where one is able to work, and give back to the economy.

NR: Do you think you have created any impact?

EM: For me, the impact is even influencing one person, one single person to stop using tobacco. And I believe yes, I've made an impact. However, there's more I can do. It's a challenge you have posed to me. There's more I can do. And with the help of the government, with the help of civil society actors, international organisations as well, we can be able to, you know, push for stronger policies and make real, real impact; impact that's sustainable because I also believe in sustainability.

NR: What are some of the challenges that you face as a tobacco control champion?

EM: Definitely inadequate resources is one thing, because there are instances where we don't have resources to champion for policies that are life changing. So that's a very big challenge.

Another one is tobacco industry interference. And by interference, I mean they intimidate not only the government, but also civil society organizations. Despite the challenges, we have the determination to see that the young people are not addicted, are not hooked. We are determined to ensure that we are not enriching a tobacco industry that just wants to addict and impoverish.

NR: What is your message to youth, especially students who are at home for the December holidays?

EM: Youth should be very vigilant in protecting their health because a healthy nation results in a very productive nation. So, we should be very vigilant during this period. A lot of accidents also happen on the roads, and road safety is paramount. So, for those who will indulge, they should also be very careful not to, you know, endanger other people, because we can't have people who are intoxicated driving, and we should be very mindful also of other people around us.

NR: What role does the parents have in the fight against drug and substance abuse?

Parents play a very key role in advocacy efforts, and also encouraging their children to stay sober, to stay healthy.

So, we can never underestimate the role of a parent, because a parent will be with a child, and they have a lot of influence on these children. So, we also call the government to strengthen the parents’ capacity. I like what NACADA is doing. They have programs that champion positive parenting.

Sometimes what children see their parents do, they are likely going to ape. So, when parents are responsible, when they are also championing for good causes, then it will trickle down to the society.