Local non-profit organisation, Drug Fight Malawi, says regulation and enforcement of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) can protect people from the effects of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Drug Fight Malawi Executive Director, Nelson Zakeyu, said his organisation is advocating for smoke-free public spaces and workplaces.
He said a certain research has shown that second-hand smoke increases the risk of respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, lung cancer and complications such as stillbirth, low birth weight and pre-term deliveries among pregnant women.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of Health, Adrian Chikumbe, said the Public Health Act prohibits air pollution in general and this includes public smoking.
Chikumbe said smoking exposes people to second-hand tobacco smoke, exposing them to harmful chemicals and carcinogens, thereby increasing their risk of respiratory infections such as bronchitis.
He has further urged agencies and businesses to implement and enforce smoke-free policies in public places such as restaurants, bars, and buses to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke exposure.
A study has shown that smoking prevalence among Malawians aged between 15 and 49 decreased to 6.3% in 2022 from 11% in 2019.
FCTC is an international treaty adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2003, which Malawi ratified in August 2023.
