Cansa supports smoke-free bill
The bill is currently in parliament and open for public comments until August 4.
Cansa has come out in full support of the proposed bill to enforce a 100% smoke-free environment.
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill by the Ministry of Health would require all enclosed and some outdoor public areas to be 100% smoke-free.
The bill has so far garnered mixed reactions, but the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) says it’s exactly what South Africans need.
“Tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced,” says Lorraine Govender, national manager of health promotion at Cansa.
“As reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2018, 650 million or almost half of the world’s children breathe air polluted by second-hand smoke.
“Another report, issued by the National Council Against Smoking, indicates that 25 704 die from tobacco-related diseases in South Africa and over 8 million people worldwide each year including 1.2 million non-smokers who die from second-hand smoke,” Govender continued.
Cansa says that medical research over the past two decades indicates that non-smokers that breathe second-hand smoke, may suffer the same diseases as active smokers. Second-hand smoke is said to contain over 4 000 chemicals and has twice as much tar and nicotine as smoke inhaled from a cigarette.
“That is why Cansa supports smoke-free environments. Active and passive smoking causes various cancers while affecting fertility, bone, oral, eye, lung and heart health. Research often links conditions like arthritis, type-2 diabetes, inflammation and decreased immune function with exposure to smoke from tobacco products,” Govender continues.
Cansa says that the bill will not only have positive effects on South Africans’ health but also the economy.
South Africa reportedly loses R42-billion each year from treating tobacco-related illnesses combined with the loss of productivity caused by early deaths.
The bill will regulate electronic cigarettes which are currently unregulated in South Africa.
Some of the changes include plain packaging for all brands and pictorial warnings on all packages.
Advertising tobacco products, heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes at the point of sale and the sale of cigarettes through vending machines will be stopped as well.
The bill is currently in parliament and open for public comments until August 4.
Residents that wish to have their say can complete the following document;
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjWlMn59a9z58aNNN6UYWWAeP14_m7p0oJQARaSGg7QxED7Q/viewform
“Cansa not only supports the proposed bill but also those people affected by smoking,” concludes Govender.
“If you or your loved one needs help to quit smoking, go to the Cansa online eKickbutt support programme giving helpful tools to quit and for more smoking- and cancer-related health facts and information.”
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