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Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA) has urged the Ministry of Health to operationalize the Tobacco Control Fund and add two new non-nicotine, tobacco cessation medicines to Kenya’s 2022 essential medicines list.
They said the new medicines reduce cravings for nicotine without supplying a nicotine substitute, thereby supporting people in quitting tobacco use and reducing nicotine dependence.
According to research, at least 4.2 million Kenyans are directly exposed to cancer, through a habit that puts them and those close to them at high risk.
Speaking during world cancer day 2022, KETCA national chairman Joel Gitali said the 4.2 million are Kenyan smokers are directly at risk of lung cancer, which is principally caused by tobacco use.
“Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In countries such as the United States, cigarette smoking is linked to about 80 percent to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths. Cases of lung cancer are also rising in Kenya, and are mostly attributed to tobacco use,” he said.
He urged Kenyans to quit Tobacco to have a more life expectancy.
However, due to the fact that many smokers in Kenya are already quitting, tobacco companies have introduced new, highly addictive nicotine products to recruit more customers.
“There is no safe level of tobacco use. We urge Kenyans who use any type of tobacco or nicotine products to quit. This is because research has shown people who quit smoking, have considerable gains in life expectancy compared with those who continue to smoke. Also, if you have been diagnosed with cancer, quitting smoking will reduce your risk of death,” Gitali said.
KETCA National Coordinator Thomas Lindi warned the youth that the tobacco industry wants them to be addicted to their products like cigarettes and Lyft so as to guarantee future profits.
He added that alternatives and emerging nicotine and tobacco products such as e-cigs and vapes do not help; instead, he said, they encourage dual-use and increase the burden of addiction and put users at risk of other complications.
“On the other hand, the government of Kenya should move with speed and set up the Tobacco Control Fund which will help in jump-starting programmes to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco use and assist in setting cessation programs for those who are addicted,” Mr Lindi said.