The National Tobacco Control ACT was passed by the National Assembly and signed into Law by the former President, Yahya Jammeh. The Act is meant to control the demand and supply of tobacco as well as tobacco related products, implemented in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and for other connected matters. The Gambia is a signatory to the FCTC and it is an obligation for state parties to fully implement the treaty by domesticating it within its National Laws.
Since the Gambia Tobacco Control Act became law little has been done to enforce its provisions. After passing the Act, the Parliamentarians had recommended that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should conduct three months nationwide sensitization for the public to understand the provisions of the Act. It was gathered that the sensitisation had been held for some months due to the political impasse the country experienced immediately after the 2016 Presidential elections.
The other factor that contributes to the delay in the implementation of the Act was inadequate resource for effective sensitization to take place, despite all the efforts made by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It was discovered that only Raid – The Gambia Leading Tobacco Control Advocacy Association was able to embark on a sensitization to the seven Administrative Regions of the Country in which the Security agencies were also targeted so as to help in the enforcement process.
The unexpected change of ministers by the government especially at the Minister of Health also caused a set back because before the new Minister will be formalized, it will take time for the new minister to understand the realities and challenges of the Tobacco Control Act.
Senior government officials assured that the political will and commitment of the government is there but the delay towards the implementation and the enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act is the major hindrance towards the full implementation of the Act.
Specifically, in contravention of provisions of the Act, people still smoke in public places without being apprehended.
In an interview with The Voice, Omar Badjie, Tobacco Focal Person at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare explained that the Ministry of Heath through its Minister is working closely with the Ministry of Justice for the actual finalization of the commencement order for full implementation to take place, noting that before the end of December this year this process would be completed.
He pointed out that once the finalization order of the Act is completed for it’s effective implementation and enforcement , the Minister will announce a date for implementation and enforcement of the Act, and the Public would be notify accordingly.
He assured that come January 2019 full implementation of the Act will Commences across the Country. He disclosed that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as well as Partners have conducted series of sensitization for the past months and the key stakeholders are being sensitized and the sensitization will be an on-going process.
He said that the government is fully committed towards the implementation of the Tobacco Control.
Tijan Jeng, a resident of Serrekunda expressed his dismay towards the delay of the new tobacco Control Act noting that every day people are exposed to second hand smoking which posed a high risk to the population.
He appealed to the government to ensure that this time around the Act is enforced and to empower the security to fully enforce the law to the latter.
Fatou Jammeh, of Farafenni in the North Bank Region said must of the time the government will pass laws but implementation is always a problem, citing that the no smoking ban in public place as an example. She noted that since the ban was made is still not effective, people smoke in public places without facing any penalty.
She pointed out that smoking in public places is causing more harm than good, adding also that because of Tobacco Non –Communicable diseases are on the increase in the country.
She noted that preventive measures should be look at if not government will spend lot of money on sick people.
Sainabou Janneh, a resident of Brikama from the West Coast Region, said that the delay in the implementation and the enforcement of the New Tobacco Control Act is not the lease welcome, noting that the delay in the enforcement will cost more damages and she urged people to change their attitude towards smoking because is not good for health.
Demba Bah of Bakau, in the Kanifing Municipality Council tasked the Ministry of Health to fast track the implementation and the enforcement of the Acts.
Sira Mballow of Lamin Village noted that once the Act is implemented it will prevent people by sending minors to buy Cigarettes.
Author: Momodou Faal
