Pupils advised against cigarette smoking

The Vision for Alternative Livelihood Development (VALD) has advised pupils against cigarette smoking because it is harmful to the human body and leads to death.

Mr Labram Musah, Programme Director of VALD, a non-government organisation fighting against tobacco smoking, gave the advice at a day’s event at a community forum organised for pupils of the Nurudeen Islamic School and community leaders of Kanda Ruga, a suburb of Nima West, in Accra.

It was to sensitise the pupils on the hazardous effects of tobacco smoking.

The programme, supported by the Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS), was also aimed at building the capacity of the community members on the Part Six of the Tobacco Control Measures of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which gives legal backing to the ban of cigarette smoking in public places in the country.

Mr Musah said tobacco smoking and use lead to dreadful heart diseases, lung, oral, and throat cancers as well as respiratory diseases, poverty and deaths.

He asked the pupils to spread the message on the harmful effects on the product in their homes and among their peers.

The Programme Director took the gathering through the 13 key areas of the measures of the Act, which says: “A person shall not smoke tobacco or a tobacco product or hold a lighted tobacco product in an enclosed or indoor area of a work place, or in any other public place.”

“A person shall not advertise either directly or indirectly tobacco or a tobacco product. A Person shall not promote tobacco or a tobacco product by retail sale through the mail or any means of communication.

“A person, who contravenes any provisions of the Tobacco Control Measures...subject to section 56 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30) shall be prosecuted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Anybody, who violates the Tobacco Control Measures ... commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than 750 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three years or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of 10 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.”

Mr Musah said tobacco use in any form is dangerous, and it is the most single cause of deaths and disabilities.

Alhaji Shamsu Alawiye, Chairman of the event asked the children not to attempt indulging in the habit of tobacco smoking and should communicate what they have learnt to their parents in a polite manner so that they would not be enraged.

He said: “Just respectfully say no to your parents and other persons when they send you to buy cigarette,” and advise your peers not to attempt indulging in cigarette smoking.

Alhaji Alawiye commended VALD and the Norwegian Cancer Society for bringing such informative programme to their doorsteps, which would go a long way in helping the children to shun cigarette smoking, and for those who are already engaged in it to stop.