Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 07, 2012 News
The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with Tobacco-free Kids and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) held a Consultation on Tobacco Control Legislation recently at the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus (UGBC).
In attendance were several school children and other community- minded persons and
individuals from the Berbice area.
There is an ongoing series of consultations being held across the country to sensitize individuals and to make persons aware of the proposed legislation in the works for several major changes to the tobacco- selling industry in Guyana.
The Draft Bill titled the ‘Tobacco Control Bill 2012’ aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating harms of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke; specifically to prevent tobacco use by youths; protect workers and the public from exposure to tobacco smoke; prevent exposure of the public, especially youths to tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; enhance public awareness of the hazards of tobacco and exposure, among others.
Lucy Anderson, Health Promotion Coordinator of the Health Ministry told the gathering that a warning label “not more than 30 per cent of the [cigarette] packet” is one of the targets under the Draft Bill”. All public and privately-owned health facilities, she related, are smoke-free, as well as education facilities such as schools and facilities relating to the Ministry of Education and Cyril Potter College of Education.
Strides have already been made by the MoH, even though the Bill has not become Law, in that the Ministry of Tourism, Guyana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, Guyana Water Inc, all banks and several other work- places, she revealed, are smoke-free too.
Anderson conducted a PowerPoint Presentation and she explained the concepts of Smoking and second- hand smoking and its effects on the body. She also explained how smoking affects the various organs in the body.
Dr. Marcia Paltoo, Director of Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Wellness Unit of the MoH, speaking to Kaieteur News said that the session is part of a series of national consultations on the draft Bill.
“It is a legislation that seeks to ensure that we fulfill our part of the framework convention on Tobacco Control and it’s also a part of our efforts to ensure that the population understands the importance of tobacco control and the dangers of smoking”.
Guyana, she noted, has done surveys and research as far back as 2000. Global Youth Tobacco Surveys are done every three to five years (2000-2004), and the Global School Health Survey in 2010. “We have also done indoor quality and air studies in bars and restaurants and the Global Health Professional Students Survey and the Global School Personnel Survey as well as part of the surveillance system and the Global Adult Tobacco Questions will be a part of the demographic health survey”.
Dr. Paltoo said that the MoH has received “good data” from all those surveys. In speaking about some of the smoking habits of the Guyanese population, the doctor noted that the data shows 9.5 per cent of persons were ‘ever users’ of tobacco.
“Just about one in every ten, and what it shows is that the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, like cigars and chewed tobacco, has increased significantly compared to the last two surveys”.
The data at hand also continues to show that there are five different areas that require attention. These include access (to tobacco), availability and media.
Being a doctor, she has seen the damage cigarettes have been doing to people over the years, “such as coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attacks, a lot of lung cancers…”
She noted that second-hand smoking is an area under heavy focus in the MoH, since it can cause a whole range of health complications such as lung cancer and coronary heart disease. Children who are exposed can aggravate asthmatic conditions “and they have ear and lung infections.
If someone is hooked on tobacco use and smoking, Dr. Paltoo said that it can be very hard to quit but help is available. The MoH is currently developing a cessation programme in collaboration with the Chest Clinic and Tuberculosis Programme.
She is nevertheless encouraging persons to seek care through the cessation programme. While it is not fully accessible in Berbice at the moment, Dr Paltoo did say that some drugs can be used to deal with tobacco addiction in Berbice like Bupropion “but as I said, we are still working to ensure we have the cessation programme everywhere like in the hospitals.”
The nicotine patches like Nicoderm- CQ among others, she said, do work and persons can use them to help quit smoking. “It certainly does work– the patches and chewing gum– I have known a few people who have actually used them and it has helped them quit, so those can be an option for persons who can afford them because it’s costly”.
Kesaundra Alves, Legal Advisor, Bloomberg Tobacco Control Project also spoke about the Draft Bill and what it really contains. Afterwards, there was a general questions and answers segment about the Draft Bill.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 29, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – After a series of outstanding performances in 2023, Tianna Springer, dubbed the ‘wonder girl’, is eagerly gearing up to compete in this year’s...Kaieteur News – Good Friday in Guyana is not what it used to be. The day has lost much of its solemnity. The one day... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]