Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
A civil society report 2021 on tobacco industry interference index, which reviews the country’s response to protecting health measures from commercial and other vested interest, has revealed that Zambia has performed poorly.
Speaking during the launch of the report in Lusaka today, tobacco free association of Zambia executive director brenda Chitindi says according to the report Zambia is standing on 78 percent out of 100 stating that this is due to implementations of Zambia tobacco control policies that are highly interfered by the Zambian government.
she observes with concern that the long delay in the filling the tobacco control product bill has benefited the tobacco industry to increase its businesses putting the health of many Zambians at risk.
She says the 2021 report for Zambia further shows that the tobacco industry was able to persuade policy makers grant tax breaks for the tobacco industry.
She expressed concern that tobacco cost Zambia 2.8 billion kwacha equivalent to 1.2 percent of its gross domestic product in health care expenditures, lost productivity among others.
She has therefore recommended that government curb tobacco industry interference , reject it’s non binding agreement and put in place measures that will raise awareness among civil servants on the need to protect health policies .
Speaking at the same event ministry of health national coordinator for mental health and tobacco controls doctor Mweene Nseluke assured that government is committed to ensuring that the tobacco control bill will be presented to cabinet and later parliament.
He has since appealed for patience among stakeholders as the bill is under review .