Tobacco products addiction should be a concern for the government

Kiambu, Wednesday May 31, 2023

KNA by Terry Njueini

“World No Tobacco Day’ is observed annually on May 31st, to raise awareness about the devastating health effects of tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce its use worldwide.

In Kiambu County Tobacco ranks third among the drugs abused after Alcohol and Bhang, while Kenya is ranked 41st globally with the sales forecast to reach USD74.65 million by 2026.

Speaking to KNA Wednesday, Dr. Wanjiru Karanja of Kiambu Medical Centre says that the move by the government to encourage substitution of the crop could be effective but might not eradicate smoking completely because the main problem facing smokers is addiction.

This year’s theme is “Grow food, not tobacco” with the global campaign aiming to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers.

“The substitution of crops could work but it is might not serve as the perfect cure for tobacco smoking in the country. The biggest challenge facing users of tobacco is addiction and not availability,” she said.

Dr. Karanja added: “Once we deal with addiction, there will be no demand and therefore farmers will be discouraged from growing the crop.”

According to government statistics released last year, every year, smoking and use of tobacco-related products kill approximately 6000 Kenyans aged 24 years and above. Globally tobacco uses claims about 8 million lives.

According to Dr. Karanja, the prevalence of tobacco smoking in Kiambu is higher among the older population aged above 35 years, which is at 65 per cent as compared to the youthful population which is at 25per cent, but this she attributes to younger people in the County preference of Marijuana over tobacco.

Samuel Wanjohi, a maize vendor in Kiambu town and who has been smoking tobacco for more than ten years admitted that he is aware of the dire consequences of smoking, but he is not ready to quit just yet.

“I am yet to see the effects of smoking on my health. I cannot also explain how I got hooked to tobacco. I have used tobacco for more than ten years, I have heard of the effects but am not ready to quit,” he told KNA.

According to Dr. Karanja, there are dire consequences of smoking in the long run which include cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory infections and of course addiction.

Unfortunately, she explained that smoking is not taken seriously as alcohol or hard drugs since no one follows up on smokers to help them quit.  

She however termed tobacco addiction as the worst maintaining that the government should set facilities to help tobacco addicts just like those of alcohol.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco industry often touts itself as an advocate for the livelihood of tobacco farmers but this is a far cry from the truth since the intensive handling of insecticides and toxic chemicals during the cultivation of tobacco causes many farmers and their families, ill health.

In 2007, Kenya passed the Tobacco Control Act, which provides a comprehensive framework for regulating tobacco products. The act includes provisions for smoke-free environments, tobacco advertising and promotion ban, graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, and regulation of tobacco product contents.

Courtesy ; K. N. A