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Minister of Heath Joseph Kasonde has disclosed that Zambia was among many countries in the world that have embraced the World Health Organization (WHO) framework convention on tobacco control.
Dr. Kasonde said Zambia has since enacted and continue to enforce national and local smoke free measures to protect its people against exposure to conditions that were harmful to human health.
The Minister said he will submit the proposal to ban tobacco sponsorship, promotion and advertising in Zambia to cabinet.
He said this today during the commemoration of world no tobacco day celebrations in Lusaka.
He also revealed that the global statistic show that six million tobacco related deaths occur every year in the world.
Dr. Kasonde stated that out of this number, 600,000 are non smokers who are exposed to passive smoking.
He added that data from 151 countries show that about seven percent of adolescent girls smoke cigarettes as opposed to twelve percent of adolescent boys.
He also disclosed that in Zambia, 27 percent of men compared to three percent women smoked tobacco while the record also reveals that nine percent of boys in Zambia smoke compared to eight percent of girls respectively.
And World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Olusegun Babaniyi expressed sadness that tobacco related deaths have increased not only in Zambia but the rest of the world.
Dr. Babaniyi said in order to reduce tobacco related deaths, it was important that countries consider banning tobacco sponsorship, promotion and advertising.
He said although many countries were making significant strides in eradicating smoking and public smoking, there is more to be done in Zambia and other countries.
