TOBACCO FREE ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA TIPS GOVT ON REDUCING THE PREVALENCE OF CANCER

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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 everything done to reduce its consumption has the ability to save or extend one’s life from the tobacco pandemic. 


"Cancer is the second largest cause of death worldwide and tobacco is the leading cause directly responsible for cancer deaths. Any plan that the government of Zambia has to reduce the prevalence and impact of Cancer will fail if the plan does not address tobacco use. Tobacco consumption is the number one cause of preventable death, everything we do in our lifetime to reduce tobacco consumption has the ability to save or extend someone’s life from the tobacco pandemic. It is hard work but beyond rewarding, "she said




Ms. Chitindi  said Zambia, therefore, needs to create a future without cancer and that the time to act is now. 


She said this in a statement to mark World Cancer Day, a campaign which is focusing on uniting the voices to act on Cancer and close the care gap.


World Cancer Day was born on the 4 February 2000 at the World Summit against Cancer for the new millennium in Paris.






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