Enact FCTC now, CPCR & TCCZ plead
Left to Right: Zambia Media Network Against Tobacco (ZAMNAT) Chairperson Ms. Paxina Phiri, TCCZ Acting Chairperson Albert Phiri and CPCR Acting Director Richard Zulu. – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
By Derrick Sinjela
A DAY after resumption of the Second Session of the 13th National Assembly, the Center for Primary Care Research (CPCR) Senior Researcher Richard Zulu and Tobacco Control Consortium of Zambia (TCCZ) Acting Chairperson Albert Phiri held a joint Press Briefing at Lusaka’s Longarces Lodge reiterating a need for the Zambian Government to domesticate the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) ratified 16 years ago on Friday 23rd May 2008.
During an interaction convened by Zambia Media Network Against Tobacco (ZAMNAT) Chairperson Ms. Paxina Phiri, both Mr. Zulu and Mr. Phiri regretted that indiscriminate tobacco consumption posed significance risks to public health and as attainment of sustainable development is dependant on a healthier population.
Alluding to tobacco control in Zambia, CPCR Senior Researcher, Zulu highlighted a direct annual impact on survival of individuals due to tobacco related illnesses, disabilities and afflicting over 7,000 Zambians, with a staggering 60% of this fatalities occurring in individuals under the age of 70-year-old threshold.
“As a research institution, CPCR research show that Tobacco use is a major public health concern as it harms even those who use it exactly as specified by the manufacturer, tobacco use takes away 10 years from the lifespan of life- time users. Tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases causing cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung, disease diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis,” said Zulu
Zulu has thanked the New Dawn administration for showing the political will to enact the tobacco control bill into law.
Sharing a Valentines greeting, Phiri expressed optimistism of the introduction of the Tobacco Control a Bill before the current legislative session.
“Our parliamentarians must choose Life through passing the Tobacco Control Bill into law as our nation marks 16 years since Zambia ratified a comprehensive tobacco control law.
Sadly, two decades later Zambia does not have a tobacco control law.
“Zambia’s Minister of Health, Ms. Sylvia Tembo-Masebo has displayed efforts to accelerate this process with TCCZ confidence justified on account of her spearheading enactment of laws banning cigarette smoking in Zambia’s public premises. Death is death, regardless of any attempts to sugarcoat it as dying from a preventable premature illness is more tragic,” said Phiri.
Phiri discouraged use of so-called novel products; e-cigarettes vaping or shisha, as a WHO report shows that a single session of shisha pipe smoking lasting between 20 to 80 minutes, translate into another person smoking 100 cigarette,” said Phiri.
Ms. Tembo-Masebo has an wavering determination pushing for the enactment of the tobacco control bill, which shall protect future generations,” said Phiri.
Phiri accused the Tobacco Industry (TI) of interfering in the legislative process of the tobacco control bill in Zambia.
Phiri says interference and undue influence by the Tobacco Industry has caused unnecessary delays in domesticating the World Health Organization Framework Convection on Tobacco Control in Zambia.
Phiri says the tobacco industry in Zambia possesses substantial financial resources, expert influence and enjoys powerful connections to further their agenda.
“The absence of consultation with the civil society during the consultative process while passing the Tobacco ACT of 2022, which seeks to enhance tobacco production, is causing apprehension;” laments Phiri.
According to the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control, Zambia experienced a high level of interference from the tobacco industry in both 2020 and 2021, surpassing many African countries.
