TCHPA supports NACADA proposal, pushes for age limit on tobacco and nicotine use
The Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance has supported the recommendations by the National Authority for Campaign against Drug Abuse (NACADA) to have the legal drinking age raised from 18 to 21.
Speaking in Busia, TCHPA Chairperson Joel Gitali has made a call for the same proposals being applied to Tobacco and Nicotine products.
According to Gitali, efforts by stakeholders fighting the usage of Tobacco products have been jeopardized by poor leadership in the health sector.
“We support the proposal by NACADA, which is doing a great job in curbing the abuse of drugs. The proposal to raise the legal drinking age to 21 is a good one and should also be applied to the use of tobacco and nicotine and their products. Anyone below the age of 21 should not be allowed to use tobacco and nicotine, and their products,” he stated.
The chairman has applauded efforts by the Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, in fighting cartels in the sector who are used to encourage the use of the products.
Furthermore, he has called for the recreation of the Tobacco Control Board after the term for those serving there coming to an end.
“We concur with the efforts and actions by CS Duale. The Tobacco Control Board’s term came to an end, and we are pleading that when the new board is being set, let those who will represent Non-Government Organizations be someone known to the various NGO’s fighting tobacco and nicotine use,” he pleaded.
This is even as religious leaders in Busia have called for the inclusion of all stakeholders when implementing the proposals, including alcohol business people, religious leaders, and administration officers, among others, to ensure that the proposals work.
“Those who sell alcohol, religious leaders, and administration officers, among others, need to be sought out to ensure the proposals work,” Isiah Obuyu, Archbishop in the Anglican Church Nambale Diocese, stated.
They have expressed their disappointment that tobacco farming is high in Busia and Bungoma Counties, blaming tobacco manufacturing companies for encouraging the same.
The use of Tobacco in Busia County has been high due to the availability and cheap price of the products from its neighbour, Uganda.
