World No Tobacco Day: tobacco control without a law is illicit to population’s health

“Stop the illicit trade of tobacco products”, this is the theme that the 28^th edition of the World No Tobacco Day is celebrated. In effect, the Cameroon Coalition to Counter Tobacco organized on the 28^th May, 2015 in Yaounde, a day dedicated to the fight against tobacco. During this celebration, the discussions focused on the consequences of illicit trade on health, economic and social domains. This in view of an advocacy towards a better tobacco control.

Debate panel

In Cameroon, government measures are existing to overcome this problem as recalled by the representative of the Minister of Public health. But for C3T, these measures are becoming insufficient. In effect, opposition, but equally, in all adoption of an anti-tobacco law, because this will contribute to the efficient fight against this calamity, this is the point of view of all the panelists of the round table debate organized by the C3T on the impact of the illicit trade of tobacco in Cameroon. This debate was Chaired by Aimé Robert Bihina.  The panel was constituted of Mr Pascal Awono (representative of the Minister of Public health), Mrs Koa Alima Beyala Jacqueline (representative of the Minister of Trade), Dr Léonard Mbam Mbam (the representative  of the WHO’s  local office representative  in Yaounde), Hon. Vincent de Paul Emah Etoundi (vice president of the parliamentary network against Tobacco(Oxygen), Dr KAMGA OLEN Jean-Pierre ( Medicalpractitioner ) and Dr Flore NDEMBIYEMBE( president of C3T).

Le Cameroun face au lobby de l’industrie du tabac

Depuis la ratification de  la convention cadre de l’OMS pour la lutte anti tabac en 2006, nombre d’actions sont menées par le ministère de la Santé et la société civile pour l’adoption d’une loi anti tabac. Mais, malgré la rédaction d’un avant projet de loi, le cadre juridique peine toujours a prendre forme.

Le tabac est le seul produit de grande consommation dont l’usage normal est nocif pour la santé. En effet, le tabac tue un sur deux de ses consommateurs.  Selon l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS), la prévalence du tabagisme augmentera en Afrique de 39% à l’horizon 2030.

Au Cameroun, grâce à l’action des lutteurs anti tabac elle stagne autour de 17,5%  de population. Les jeunes et les femmes sont de plus en plus ciblés par les compagnies de tabac.  Selon les inquiétudes et estimations de la Coalition Camerounaise Contre le Tabac (C3T), si rien n’est fait dans les prochains jours, on pourrait  assister à une hausse significative de la consommation.