Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
Tobacco use among African adults is projected to decline significantly, with Statista estimating a drop from 14.5% in 2000 to 7.4% by 2025. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a growing youthful population, increasing incomes, and the expanding tobacco industry could lead to a surge in young smokers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Once limited to Zimbabwe and Malawi, tobacco cultivation has spread widely across Africa since 1995. The region faces a grim future as tobacco-related illnesses and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are expected to rise, with WHO reporting 8 million global tobacco-related deaths annually, 80% of which occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Challenges in Global Tobacco Regulation
Efforts like the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) aim to curb tobacco use. While 43 African countries have ratified the convention, others, including Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, and Sudan, have not. Critics argue that WHO FCTC’s broad bans on nicotine products, including less harmful alternatives, may inadvertently push consumers toward more dangerous tobacco products. Countries like Kenya and South Africa have introduced high taxes on e-cigarettes, which experts say could stifle Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) efforts.
Advocating for Home-Grown Solutions
Wilson Box, a Zimbabwean THR expert, stressed the need for Africa-specific regulations. Speaking at the 4th Harm Reduction Exchange in Nairobi, Box called for national and regional assessments to gather local data. “Policymakers should rely on home-grown research to design regulations tailored to Africa’s unique challenges,” he said, criticizing reliance on foreign data.
Box also noted disparities in regulatory enforcement across African countries. While nations like the UK prioritize harm reduction strategies, African regulations often face challenges due to external influences, such as funding from international tobacco companies.
Limited Access to Safer Alternatives
The availability of safer nicotine products (SNPs) remains sparse across Africa. While nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is marketed in 18 countries, many lack specific laws for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Snus is legal in 22 countries, but 26 have no laws regulating its sale. For e-cigarettes, only five African countries explicitly allow their sale, while five ban them entirely.
Breaking Barriers to Harm Reduction
Samuel Hanu of Ghana’s Harm Reduction Alliance highlighted the need to combat stigma and punitive approaches to tobacco and drug use. These measures, he argued, deter individuals from seeking harm reduction services. “Governments must shift funding from punitive measures to harm reduction initiatives,” Hanu said, advocating for the use of technology to combat misinformation about THR.
Innovative tools like ORION, an e-health platform used in Europe, and Scotland’s Digital Lifelines program demonstrate how technology can enhance harm reduction services. Hanu called for similar innovations in Africa to improve access and support for harm reduction efforts.
By embracing local solutions and leveraging technology, Africa can address the challenges of tobacco harm and reduce the growing health burden on its population.
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