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There are five countries in Africa, which are growing tobacco. Zimbabwe tops the list with a percentage share of 33.3%, followed by Mozambique (17.2%), Malawi (16.8%), Tanzania (8.4%), and Uganda (5.1%). Rehabilitation of farmers and others involved in tobacco cultivation and ancillary activities also poses a challenge to these countries
Delegates from around the world gathered in Panama City for the tenth conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). It was the first in-person COP since 2018. Earlier meetings were held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Significantly, in the past 20 years tobacco prevalence among adults has declined. The WHO FCTC warned about the dangers the industry can pose for the environment since the lands used for tobacco cultivation cannot be quickly reconverted to be used again for cultivating other crops. Tobacco crops can absorb soil nutrients, affecting other crops. Also, it requires the intensive use of pesticides, polluting the environment. Some 8 million people die each year from tobacco use worldwide either by using tobacco products or by pollution created by pesticides.
There are five countries in Africa, which are growing tobacco. Zimbabwe tops the list with a percentage share of 33.3%, followed by Mozambique (17.2%), Malawi (16.8%), Tanzania (8.4%), and Uganda (5.1%). Rehabilitation of farmers and others involved in tobacco cultivation and ancillary activities also poses a challenge to these countries.
The latest global tobacco report reveals some revealing data. There are at least 37 million children aged 13-15 currently using some form of tobacco. The use of e-cigarettes is common among adolescents in some countries. The prevalence of tobacco-smoking children, who cannot make a considered decision about what they should use, is a major concern of WHO.
The Panama round of meetings has taken steps to strengthen guidelines on cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and the depiction of tobacco in the entertainment media. In addition, two expert groups were established – one to work on forward-looking tobacco-control measures and the other to focus on liability. The Parties also agreed to extend by five years the mandate of the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control 2019–2025.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/tobacco-use-declining-globally-africa-registers-impressive-decline/
The recently concluded five-day summit was attended by representatives from 142 countries and tackled a range of issues including the regulation of tobacco advertising.
