The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana Health Service, and Civil Society Organizations have intensified campaign in raising awareness about the strategies employed by the tobacco industry to target children and adolescents.
Marking this year’s celebration under the theme; “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”, the ministry in a statement said despite the WHO’s report citing over 8 million tobacco-related deaths annually, the tobacco industry continues to aggressively market its products around the world, undermining the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Tobacco, which remains a pressing concern in Ghana according to a 2017 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) revealed that 8.8% of students who participated in the survey aged 13 to 15 years use tobacco products (including shisha) while 4.9% use Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (including E-cigs, vapes).
Notably, boys and girls reported similar rates of tobacco use at 8.9% and 8.2% whiles electronic cigarette use at 4.9% and 5.0% respectively.
This according to the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and the Food and Drugs Authority raises a concern which needs to be addressed emphasizing the harmful effects of tobacco and other tobacco products on health.
Reiterating government’s commitment in eliminating tobacco industry interference and promoting the WHO FCTC’s aims, the ministry noted that it will commence a public awareness creation exercise nationwide primarily using traditional and social media platforms and organizing public educational programs in schools, market centers, churches and transport terminals.
See statement below
