by KELVIN JAKACHIRA
CAPE TOWN – ADVOCATES of tobacco harm reduction have allayed fears that the increased uptake of smoke-free products will affect the tobacco sector as the value chains of these relatively safer products largely remains the same, with the tobacco leaf being the primary source of nicotine.
This is likely to reassure African countries whose economies rely on tobacco.
While harm reduction aims at reducing associated health burdens associated with smoking, some African economies heavily depend on tobacco farming and export, creating a conflict between public health goals and economic interests.
Tobacco production in Zimbabwe has reached an all-time high of more than 340 million kilogrammes, while earnings have risen to more than US$1 billion (about R20 billion).
Multinational tobacco companies in parts of Africa are reportedly actively opposed to smoke-free initiatives and are lobbying governments to ignore the harm reduction lobby in a bid to protect their business interests.
In Kenya, the tobacco industry has challenged a strong smoke-free law passed by parliament, while in Zambia, a major multinational tobacco company’s influence has diluted proposals for smoke-free legislation.
In South Africa, the same multinational company is fighting the country’s amended anti-smoking laws. But Dr Mercy Korir, an award-winning journalist and chief executive officer of Willow Health Media in Kenya, says the value chain for tobacco products remains largely the same but the processing and production of the products differ significantly.
Dr Korir said unlike cigarettes, the production of smoke-free products significantly reduces the harmful chemicals associated with combustion.
“The end product that is going to the consumer is a safer product because you have removed the harmful chemicals which comes from the combustion,” Dr Korir told journalists on the sidelines of the recently held Technovation Conference by Philip Morris International in Cape Town, South Africa.
“So, the smoke-free product means somebody has processed instead of you burning cigarettes to get the nicotine somebody has done all that process and given you the nicotine in a safer product.”
The Technovation Smoke-Free Summit was hosted by Philip Morris International (PMI) for the first time in Africa, marking a significant event for the continent. PMI is a leading voice in the global push for harm reduction.
It encourages policymakers, scientists and public health advocates to embrace science-backed, smoke-free alternatives to address the growing smoking epidemic in Africa.
The Technovation Smoke-Free Summit focused on transitioning smokers to smoke-free alternatives and emphasised the need for evidence-based policies, innovation and collaboration to achieve a smoke-free future.
The summit brought together leaders from industry, science and public health to discuss the transition from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives. Dr Korir said there is a need to empower journalists to adequately inform consumers so they can make informed choices.
“There is a huge disconnect. Health professionals might understand harm reduction, but journalists and the public don’t. We need authentic voices and proper training to bridge that gap so people can make informed choices,” she said.
“As journalists, we stand at a privileged point where we can look at what the science says, what the data says, and what developments in technology are there. We should be able to present that in a journalistic way, amplifying voices that have had positive change, and dispelling misinformation and myths.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while smoking rates are declining in developed countries, they are rising in Sub-Saharan Africa, with projections of 84 million smokers by the end of this year.
PMI’s vice president for Sub-Saharan Africa Mr Branislav Bibic said African countries should move beyond outdated tobacco control models and embrace scientifically backed harm reduction approaches.
“Informed consumers are recognising smoke-free products as better alternatives. We need to engage policymakers and local communities,” Mr Bibic said.
PMI scientific engagement manager in charge of Sub-Saharan Africa Dr Clement Dairga Basse spoke on the need to promote a better understanding of harm reduction to help smokers make better choices for their health.
“Smoke-free products can protect users from inhaling harmful smoke by 90 to 95 percent, making them a valuable option for those struggling to quit smoking,” said Dr Basse, a medical doctor and public and occupational health specialist.
He emphasised the need for regulation to ensure smoke-free products are free before substandard substitutes flood the market.
“If these products are left unregulated, some companies might take advantage and come up with substandard or fake smoke-free products that would cause harm to users,” he warned.
With tobacco killing more than seven million people every year, the World Health Organisation is urging countries to double their efforts on enforcement, close loopholes and reject interference from powerful tobacco interests.
In Rwanda, while smoking rates are declining, they remain a public health concern, with over 2,000 smoking-related deaths annually.
Tobacco harm reduction strategies, such as promoting less harmful nicotine products and educating healthcare providers, are gaining traction as potential solutions to reduce smoking-related harm.
– CAJ News
