Africa: Anti-tobacco coalition urges governments to strengthen tobacco policies

On the occasion of the 72nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa held in Lomé (Togo), the Alliance for Tobacco Control in Africa (ACTA) called on governments to do more to protect present and future generations and ensure a healthy and tobacco-free Africa..

The WHO Regional Committee for Africa is the decision-making body of the Organization on health policies in the African Region. It is composed of ministers of health or representatives from each of the 47 Member States in the Region.

Accelerating the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention

While Africa is on track to achieve a 30% relative reduction in tobacco use prevalence between 2018 and 2025 among people aged 15 years and above, the tobacco industry remains the main obstacle to implementing tobacco control policies. The African continent is experiencing a significant increase in youth smoking, with recent data showing that the prevalence rate among girls is reaching the same level as that of boys. The high population growth in African countries translates into a large proportion of young people in the population. This makes it a prime marketing ground for the tobacco industry.

For Léonce Dieudonné Sessou, Executive Secretary of ATCA, " Youth are prey to tobacco multinationals despite efforts by African governments to protect populations. The industry is increasingly influencing decision-makers, using CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, both conventional and novel, thereby undermining the implementation of tobacco control policies. "He calls on African governments to accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention and in particular to combat industry interference in public health policies. The challenge is to protect populations and significantly reduce tobacco prevalence to achieve a tobacco-free Africa.[1].

Continued efforts by many African countries in anti-tobacco policies

According to the activity report WHO Global Strategy to Strengthen Tobacco Control,- Advancing Sustainable Development through Implementation of the WHO FCTC 2019-2025 - Many African countries have developed and implemented multisectoral tobacco control strategic plans aligned with FCTC best practices. 36 (77 %) African States have adopted tobacco control laws and regulations, 22 (47 %) African States have improved tax and tariff measures, 15 (32 %) are implementing large graphic health warnings.

WHO continues to collaborate closely with African governments to strengthen tobacco control laws. On 2 August 2022, the Gabonese Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO, organized a legal capacity building workshop. The workshop focused on preventing tobacco industry interference in the country and the importance of multi-sectoral action, in the context of the FCTC, to strengthen tobacco control in the country.

In early August, Sierra Leonean lawmakers unanimously passed a law to protect the population from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products. The country ratified the WHO treaty in 2009, and the law effectively transposes the provisions into Sierra Leonean law. In Côte d’Ivoire, WHO, in collaboration with national organizations, trained journalists on the measures of the FCTC treaty and related texts, as well as on tobacco control legislation and regulations in the country and the tobacco industry’s interference in blocking public health policies in this area.

The tobacco industry, a major obstacle in Africa

Although 44 of the 47 countries in the African region have ratified the WHO treaty, none has fully implemented all of its provisions. This is partly due to lobbying by the tobacco industry. Tobacco multinationals have been expanding in Africa in recent decades and are exploiting the continent’s socio-political climate. They take advantage of political tensions, social inequalities and often weak legislative frameworks to influence policies on the continent in their favour.

For example, extensive research published in 2021 by the NGO Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products (STOP) revealed numerous instances where British American Tobacco worked to counter tobacco control measures. The manufacturer reportedly distributed more than €500,000 in ten countries in Africa over five years in an effort to influence public health regulations.[2].

Keywords: ATCA, Africa, WHO, FCTC, tobacco control

©Tobacco Free Generation

AE

[1] ATCA, 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Togo, published on August 24, 2022, consulted on August 26, 2022

[2] Generation without tobacco, British American Tobacco accused of corruption and espionage in Africa, published on September 21, 2021, consulted on August 26, 2022