NEWSLINE

The Tobacco Free Association of Zambia has cautioned that any plans that the government of Zambia has to reduce the prevalence and impact of Cancer will fail if it does not address tobacco use. Association Executive Director Brenda Chitindi, explains that this is because tobacco is the leading cause directly responsible for cancer which is the second largest cause of death worldwide. According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco is responsible for over 7,000 deaths annually in Zambia, translating to a health cost burden of approximately 2.8 billion Kwacha each year, which equates to 1.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product-GDP. There has been calls from various stakeholders for the  Government to prioritize the tabling of the draft Tobacco Control Bill in parliament  and develop policies that are aligned with and support its effective implementation  so as to save lives. And Ms. Chitindi has emphasized that Tobacco consumption is the number one cause of preventable death and that every