TOBACCO ABUSE WORRIES STAKEHOLDERS

By Scoop Reporter

THERE is a need to control social media and create a conducive community of advocacy that communicates right information on the dangers of tobacco, says Zambia Paediatrics Association (ZPA) president Chalilwe Chungu.

Dr. Chungu noted that mental health was on rise and that the most affected were youths on account of generally being risk-takers.

He said there was a need to protect young people from illicit activities that were associated with drug abuse as such was among the sources of increased mental health complications.

He said mental challenges were among non-communicable diseases that were on increase and emphasized on the need for the protection of young people from the harmful effects of substances found in tobacco use.

He said the dangers of tobacco use included oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune system suppression, which could lead to various health problems such as cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.

He said prevention was key and that information was a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting activities that were bound to protect public health.

“We need to create a community that supports and educates young people about the dangers of illicit products such as tobacco use among others. It takes a collective effort to prevent the devastating effects of tobacco use on children and youth who are at higher risk because they can do things without thinking of consequences, ” he said.

And Centre for Primary Care Research (CPCR) senior researcher Richard Zulu emphasized the crucial role of media for informing, educating, and entertaining the public.

He encouraged the media professionals to partner with researchers to raise awareness about the harmful effects of nicotine use, particularly among young people.

He said it was against this background that various stakeholders were focused on the urgent need for tobacco control legislation to safeguard lives, adding that the tobacco industry’s tactics were aimed at delaying and destroying efforts to protect young people from nicotine addiction for their profit making at the expense of saving lives.

He said stakeholders’ partnership was a significant step forward in the fight against tobacco to drive change.

Meanwhile, Media Network for Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) Executive Director Henry Kabwe said there was a need for strengthened policies that protected children from the harmful tactics of the tobacco industry.

Mr. Kabwe explained that children’s rights and development were deeply connected to the need for effective policies that protected them from any harmful strategies.