During the World No Tobacco Day commemoration in Freetown on May 31st, Dr. Santigie Sesay, Director at the Directorate of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health in the Ministry of Health, brought attention to the severe consequences of tobacco consumption in Sierra Leone. He revealed that tobacco use is responsible for approximately 3,330 deaths each year in the country, with 900 of those deaths attributable solely to second-hand smoke exposure.
Dr. Sesay highlighted the alarming statistics surrounding tobacco use, stating that nearly 955,000 adults and 4,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 use tobacco products annually. He stressed the urgent need for collective efforts from all stakeholders to combat this troubling trend.
In his address, Dr. Sesay elaborated on the connection between tobacco consumption and noncommunicable diseases, identifying it as a major risk factor for various health issues, including heart disease, respiratory infections, and cancer. He specifically pointed out the devastating impact of tobacco on pregnant women, noting its association with serious pregnancy complications such as miscarriages and stillbirths.
Beyond the health risks associated with smoking, Dr. Sesay warned of the dangers posed by second-hand smoke, highlighting its severe health implications for non-smokers, particularly children and vulnerable populations.
He called for urgent action from all stakeholders to enforce the Nicotine and Tobacco Bill, emphasizing the potential benefits of comprehensive tobacco control policies such as taxation, smoke-free environments, and advertising restrictions. Dr. Sesay asserted that the effective implementation of these measures could prevent thousands of deaths and mitigate significant economic losses in the years to come.
Supporting Dr. Sesay’s perspective, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), commended Sierra Leone’s progress in tobacco control, particularly with the enactment of the Narcotic and Tobacco Bill. She praised the government’s commitment to addressing this public health crisis and urged other countries to accelerate the implementation of WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Dr. Moeti emphasized the importance of stringent measures to curb the marketing of new and emerging tobacco and narcotic products, especially those targeting youth through social media platforms.
As the World No Tobacco Day celebration concluded, the call for unified action to combat tobacco consumption echoed throughout the event. The health experts urged the government, communities, and individuals to work collaboratively towards reducing the toll of tobacco on Sierra Leonean lives, reinforcing the message that it is imperative to prioritize public health and safeguard future generations from the harms of tobacco..