SWAKOPMUND – While an estimated 50% of young people are exposed to second-hand smoke, the use of tobacco products such as hubbly bubbly, vapes and e-cigarettes remain unregulated and uncontrolled in Namibia.
These new tobacco products are widespread among young people, as Namibia’s laws do not currently regulate them.
Health experts around the world have warned that these emerging tobacco products are more harmful in the long run, as people who use them tend to develop various conditions or cancers.
Deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue, a staunch anti-tobacco activist, said over 1 000 smoking-related deaths are recorded in Namibia every year.
Muinjangue, who is also the National Unity Democratic Organisation president, was one of the speakers at the amendment of the Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010 workshop underway in Swakopmund.
“Equally, the Act does not make possible the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders on the composition of the Tobacco Products Control Committee. Therefore, we are here to address identified challenges and shortcomings in respect of the management, administration and enforcement of tobacco products control in Namibia,” the social worker-turned-politician said.
At the same event, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Laimi Ashipala said the current Act plays a crucial role in protecting the health of citizens, adding that its implementation has led to a reduction in the smoking rates of adults, and has helped protect non-smokers from harmful effects.
“However, the WHO indicates that the industry continues to target vulnerable populations, such as youth and low-income communities, with aggressive marketing tactics, especially the emerging products,” she added.
As such, WHO has prioritised Namibia as one of the countries that will be supported financially and technically for four years regarding law reform and implementation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, will conduct a nationwide learner health survey in July.
The survey will collect definitive data on vaping, and is expected to run from July to August 2024.
This was revealed by the education ministry’s executive director, Sanet Steenkamp, who in an interview with Nampa said the survey will guide both ministries on the interventions that should be developed.
“The two ministries previously carried out this survey in 2013, and the follow-up survey will provide us with data on the impact of the interventions implemented over the last 10 years,” she said.
Besides serving as a tool for gathering data on contemporary issues like vaping, it will also investigate the habits of learners using social media, said Steenkamp.
In an interview, health executive director Ben Nangombe stated the ministry of health is fostering collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to survey the increase of imports of hubbly bubblies and e-cigarettes into Namibia.
He further stated the WHO and the directorate of primary healthcare, in collaboration with the directorate of social welfare services, have visited five regions namely, Hardap, Erongo, Kunene, Oshana and Otjozondjupa, to provide awareness on issues related to vaping.
These campaigns are ongoing among communities and school-going children.
-Additional reporting by Nampa.