September 2023
China: 300 million smokers and counting
Twenty years after adopting the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), China is still addicted to cigarettes. The world’s largest producer and consumer of tobacco, it has an estimated 300 million smokers, nearly a third of the world’s total. Despite years of anti-smoking campaigns – Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly gave up...
Malawi should sustain its political will and not delay passing a WHO FCTC-compliant law
Statement of Leonce Dieudonne SESSOU, Executive Secretary of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) on Malawi’s ratification of the WHO FCTC For immediate release Lomé, 04 September 2023 - The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) congratulates Malawi for becoming the newest Party to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). We...
Annual awards to expose ‘dirty tricks’ of tobacco industry call out Meta
A Subiaco-based national organisation fighting to reduce smoking and vaping and the Australian Medical Association have presented Meta with an ‘Exploding Vape’ award. AMA and the Australian Council on Smoking & Health held its annual Dirty Ashtray Awards ceremony on Tuesday, which was attended by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler. It aims to put a...
Kenya: Impose higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco to prevent diseases
The world is finally beginning to pay attention to what we have known for years: The most pressing and unaddressed health issues in much of Africa aren’t infectious diseases like malaria or HIV, but diseases like diabetes, cancer and hypertension known as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). And these killers are poised to have a devastating...
August 2023
Nigeria: CSOs disappointed over allocation of N4.7m to tobacco control in 2023 budget
Civil Society Organizations under the auspices of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, NTCA has expressed disappointment over the allocation of N4.7 million to tobacco control in 2023 budget amid the spread of tobacco-related diseases. The Alliance was reacting to the poor enforcement of the Act on controlling tobacco products consumption by Nigerians. They said: “While tobacco...
New tobacco laws ignite smoking, e-cigarette fight in SA
A multinational tobacco company in South Africa has called for the Tobacco Bill to differentiate between cigarette and e-cigarette smoking. Picture: lil artsy/Pexels South Africa’s new tobacco laws need to differentiate between cigarettes and non-combusted alternatives and help people make informed choices instead of clamping down on smoking. Regulations set out in the Tobacco Bill should...
What the rest of the world is doing to combat youth vaping
As Labour announces a new policy that would halve the number of vape stores around the country, we take a look at how other countries are dealing with the rise of vaping among young people. Prime minister Chris Hipkins announced this week that if elected for another term, a Labour government would cap the number of vaping...
Young people are at risk of harsh respiratory problems after 30 days of e-cigarette use, study says
Young people are at risk of experiencing significant respiratory symptoms, including bronchitis and shortness of breath, after just 30 days of electronic cigarette use, according to a new study. Researchers reached the conclusion using four years of data from online surveys. Drug regulators should consider the findings and work to minimize the negative...
