ZIMBABWE, just like the rest of the world, is making significant strides in fighting noncommunicable diseases which have become a major undoing in the public health sector. Although the country has realised improvements in service delivery, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and depression, the three most common conditions in Zimbabwe, have threatened to...
British American Tobacco (BAT), through its Kenya subsidiary, is lobbying the government to slash a proposed tax hike on a yet-to-be launched nicotine pouch – a move expected to boost company profit, cement dominance in the African market, and compensate for the dipping cigarette use in Europe. In a submission to parliament’s Finance Committee, BAT...
In less than 24 months, nicotine pouches are back on the Kenyan market after British American Tobacco (BAT), the biggest manufacturer in Kenya, lobbied government authorities for their reintroduction. Meanwhile, the tobacco manufacturer continues to push for the opening of its $2.5m nicotine manufacturing plant in Nairobi. Confidential documents seen by The Africa Report show...
Do you know that your child could be consuming tobacco and nicotine products right under your nose? For parents, now is the time to watch out for smokeless tobacco and nicotine. If you think the tobacco industry will go down without a fight, you are mistaken. Let me jog your memory before I tell you...
Kenya has lost the gains made in tobacco control before the Covid-19 pandemic, a new report shows. The Global Tobacco Index is produced by the Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) as part of the STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products) global tobacco industry watchdog. It focuses on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s...
The blossoming tobacco industry is hampering Kenya’s efforts to reduce tobacco consumption, says the International Institute of Legislative Affairs (IILA). Despite the well documented effects of tobacco use that causes 8.8 million deaths globally every year, the country continues to tread softly around its stated intentions to control consumption of cigarettes and smokeless products. IILA attributes...
When consumed in high levels, nicotine can lead to poisoning and death, but the most common problem with the chemical is its addictive nature. It reconfigures how the brain operates and makes people crave tobacco products. There is a raging debate as to whether nicotine pouches should be restricted due to the fact that...
Africa is experiencing an increasing rate of tobacco use. The rapid growth of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa and an increase in consumer purchasing power is leading to larger, ready and more accessible markets in Africa. In addition, there are rigorous efforts by the tobacco industry to expand African markets. Shockingly in Africa, according to...
Kevin Kinyua, a businessman selling tobacco(Tumbaku) at Mtito Andei Market which is near Tsavo west national park in Mtito Andei in Makueni county. [David Gichuru, Standard] The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year around the world. More than 7...
In March this year, hundreds of farmers in Migori county, transitioned from risky tobacco farming to production of more sustainable crops, through the Tobacco-Free Farms Project. It was a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the...
