REPORTONWORLDNOTOBACCODAYHELDATTHEUNIVERSITYOFNAIROBI,SCHOOLOFMEDICINE(KNHCAMPUS),ON31STMAY2016

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Backgroundinformation

In1987,WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)memberstates introducedWorldNoTobaccoDaywiththeaimofdrawingglobalattentiontothetobaccoepidemicandthe preventable diseases associatedwith its use. This annual event is aimed atinforming the public on the dangers associated with the use of tobacco, thebusinesspracticesoftobaccocompanies,whatWHOisdoingtofightthetobaccoepidemic,andwhatpeoplearoundtheworldcandotoclaimtheirrighttohealthandhealthy livingandtoprotectfuturegenerations.WHOcarriesoutWorldNoTobaccoDaycampaignusingdifferentthemes,thisyear’sthemewas‘Getreadyforplainpackaging.’

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illnesses, disability and death.Worldwide,tobaccousecausesnearly6milliondeathsperyear,andcurrenttrendsshow that tobaccousewill causemore than8milliondeathsannuallyby2030.ThesestatisticsareaclearindicationthattobaccouseisaPublicHealthconcern

thatiswhyPublicHealthClub(PHC)memberssawtheneedofhavingastudents’forumtomarkthisyear’sWorldNoTobaccoDay.Thestudents’forumwasaimedatenlighteningthestudentsontheeffectsof tobaccouseandtheirrole,astheyouth,infightingthisepidemic.

1.2 TheEvent

Thestudents’forumwasheldatLectureTheatre3inKenyattaNationalHospital(KNH)from5.30PMto7.30PM.ItwasstartedoffbyJemimahMuthoniwithawordofprayerafterwhichsheinvitedtheDeanoftheSchoolofMedicine.TheDean,ProfessorWere,welcomedtheguestsandstudentswhohadattendedtheforum.Healsourgedthestudentstobeambassadorsinthewaragainsttobaccobecausechangestartswiththeyouth.

ProfessorWere,Dean–SchoolofMedicine,welcominggueststotheevent.

The students’ forumwas a discussionwhere questions from the studentsweredirectedtoaboardofpanelist.ThisactivitywasmoderatedbyMorganMuchemi.Thepanelcomprisedof:

• Mr.NewtonMburu-KNHYouthRehabilitationCentre• Ms.EmmaWanyonyi-InstituteofLegislativeAffairs(ILA)• Ms.DorcasKiptui-MinistryofHealth• Dr.ElizabethWala-KenyaMedicalAssociationCEO• Dr.Musau-KenyaMedicalResearchInstitute(KEMRI)• ProfessorPeterOdhiambo-KenyaTobaccoControlBoard• ReverendTomOtieno-LavingtonUnitedChurch• Mr.JoelGitali-KenyaTobaccoControlAllianceChairperson• Dr. Ochanda- Executive Director of International Commission of

Preventionofaddiction

ProfessorOdhiambowasgladtosharenewsofreceivingaWHOawardonbehalfoftheTobaccoControlBoardKenya,inrecognitionofoutstandingcontributiontotobaccocontrol.

Prof.PeterOdhiambo(center)holdingtheaward,withDr.TomOlewe(2ndleft),Mr.Gitali(2ndright)andstudents.

Prof.OdhiamboandProf.Werewiththeaward.

2.0 DISCUSSION2.1 Smokingamongtheyouth

Mostoftheyouthwhosmokewereintroducedtothehabitwithintheagesof7-21years.Theystartafterseeingfamilymembersandrelativesabusingthesubstancesomostofthemseeitasanorm.TheYouthRehabilitationCenteratKNHhasalotofteenagerswhocomeinwithaddictiontotobaccoamongothersubstancesofabuse.Theyouthpresentwereurgedtotakeuptheroleofinformingfellowyouthontheeffectsofsmokingandbeingadvocatesforchangeinthesociety.

2.2 RoleofLegislation

Lawplaysaveryvitalroleinthefightagainsttobaccoepidemic,inparticulartheTobacco Control Act of 2007. The law prohibited advertising of cigarettes,advocatedforplainpackagingandwarningontheeffectsoftheproduct.AccordingtotheGlobalYouthTobaccoSurvey,therehasbeenadecreaseinthenumberofadultswhosmokesincethepassingoftheTobaccoControlAct.Theacthastobeimplemented fully for there to be optimal change bringing in the need for lawenforcement officers in the different counties. These officers are trainedcommunityworkerswhowilleducatethecommunityoneffectsofsmokingwhileensuringtheactisimplementedeffectively.

The law on taxation of cigarette has also been key in reducing the number ofsmokers.Thetaxwasincreasedleadingtoanincreaseinthepriceofcigarettesthusreducingtheaffordability.Theruleonbuyingawholepacketasopposedtosticksofcigaretteshasalsodiscouragedthebuyingofcigarettesasitisnotcosteffectivetobuyawholepacket.Smokingzones,thoughnotideal,havealsoplayedaroleinthereductionofthenumberofsmokersinKenya.

2.3 RoleoftheChurch

The church is key in the fight against drugs particularly tobacco smoking. Thechurcheducates theyouthon theeffectsof tobaccouse. Theyalsoengage theyouthinactivitiessoastokeepthemoccupiedandawayfromharmfulbehaviors.Thechurchalsocounsels thosewhoarealreadyaddicted todrugsandnurturesthembacktohealth.

2.4 DoctorsforDoctors

Doctorsareinaverydemandingcareerandtendtobeunderalotofpressuremoreoften than not. This pressure tends to drive them into drug abuse, particularlysmokingandalcoholconsumption.ThedoctorsfordoctorsisaninitiativebyKMAtohelpdoctorswhoarestrugglingwithsubstanceabuseamongotherproblems.Mostdoctorswillhesitateseekinghelpatclinicsorhospitalsbecauseoftheriskof

running into their patients; this initiative ensures that their issues are handledprivately,thereforemaintainingtheirpatients’confidenceinthem.

Dr.ElizabethWala,CEOofKenyaMedicalAssociation.

2.5 Shisha

Shisha contains 0.9%nicotine, 19%hard drugs (heroin, cocaine, bhang etc.) inadditiontoallthechemicalsincigarettes.Shisha,whichisquitepopularamongtheyoung people, is probably more harmful than cigarettes because an individualsmokes a lot of puffs within one sitting. Other than that,more than 40 of theproductswerebannedforcontainingharddrugs.Shishaisanareaofgreatconcernbecausemostpeopledonotthinkofitasaharmfuldrugyetitisquitelethal.

Attendeesoftheevent.

3.0 CONCLUSIONTheyouthhaveaverybigandcrucialroletoplayinthefightagainsttobaccouse,thestudentspresentwereurgedtobeadvocatesforgoodhealthbyleadingthewayandsettingagoodexampletotherest.Theywerealsourgedtotakepartinoutreach programs and the different campaigns against tobacco and othersubstancesofabuse.

The event was then concluded by Professor Odhiambo on behalf of the Dean,Professor Were. James Wachira then gave the vote of thanks and JemimahMuthoniclosedwithawordofprayer.

Reportcompiledby:

NaomiNdukuMunywoki

PublicHealthClub–UniversityofNairobi.