During the World No Tobacco Day commemoration in Freetown on May 31st, Dr. Santigie Sesay, Director of the Directorate of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, shed light on the devastating impact of tobacco consumption in Sierra Leone.
The health implications of tobacco consumption are severe. Dr. Sesay underscored the link between tobacco use and non-communicable diseases, identifying it as a major risk factor for heart attacks, respiratory infections, and various forms of cancer. He particularly emphasized the adverse effects on pregnant women, noting that tobacco use is associated with complications such as miscarriages and stillbirths. Furthermore, second-hand smoke poses serious health risks to non-smokers, making tobacco a pervasive threat to public health.
Dr Sesay called for urgent and coordinated action from all stakeholders to enforce the Nicotine and Tobacco Bill. He stressed the importance of tobacco control policies, including taxation, smoke-free environments, and advertising restrictions, which could prevent thousands of deaths and save the country from substantial economic losses in the long run.
Supporting Dr Sesay’s message, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the Regional Director of WHO, praised Sierra Leone's advancements in tobacco control, particularly the enactment of the Narcotic and Tobacco Bill. Dr. Moeti urged nations to expedite the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. She emphasized the need for stringent measures to limit the marketing of new and emerging tobacco and narcotic products, especially those targeting young people through social media platforms.
This call to action highlights the need for robust policies and public awareness campaigns to combat tobacco use and protect public health in Sierra Leone and beyond.