A report on preventing a tobacco epidemic in Africa was presented in Yaounde on April 3.
Tobacco consumption is the first cause of deaths which can be avoided in the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that tobacco is the direct cause of 5.4 million deaths in 2014 and 100 million during the 20th century. Tobacco causes cardiovascular diseases and several forms of cancer, among others. According to the WHO statistics, six million those avoidable deaths were due to passive tobacco consumption. Finally, tobacco consumption is reducing in developed countries but is increasing in underdeveloped countries.
It is for these reasons that the Network of African Science Academies has produced a report on tobacco and its negative effects on the theme, “Preventing a Tobacco Epidemic in Africa: A call for effective action to support health, social and economic development”. The report was presented yesterday, April 3, 2014 in Yaounde by the Cameroon Academy of Sciences.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, Prof. Samuel Domngang, said the presentation will enable decision-makers and leaders invited to be inspired by the conclusions and recommendations of the report for the good of African governments and people. The report presents the committee’s evidence-based recommendations for tobacco control in Africa. It outlines strategies that should place tobacco control policies on the African leadership agenda and also calls upon other groups such as civil society organisations to share in the responsibility of protecting vulnerable populations from misleading and deceitful messaging by the tobacco industry.
