By Daphne Machiri
Tobacco use has become a huge and growing public health burden worldwide, with the threat to global health greater today than ever before.
Even in Africa, where smoking prevalence has increased, lung cancer is now the most common cause of cancer-attributable mortality in men.
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), 2018 Lung Cancer in Africa Fact Sheet, stated that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Every year, lung cancer causes more than 1.7 million deaths. The statistics are disheartening and there is urgent need for science-driven strategies to address the harms associated with tobacco use, not only that alone but also new advances which will hold great promise for screening, early detection and personalized therapies and need for continued financial support.
Tobacco related conditions emerging as an increasingly important public health problem on the continent and at global level hence there is need for science-driven strategies to address the harms associated with tobacco use, an expert revealed.
Doctor Dr Kgosi Letlape, ophthalmologist and health care leader, President of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCA), made the revelations a during an online Ask Me Session, Informative Session on Science and Harm Reduction session organized by Integra Africa.
He highlighted the importance of regulatory frameworks rooted in science and evidence.
“Our policies must be based on what we know, not what we fear overall it should be guided by scientific findings.
“And countries are encouraged to create a legislative framework that improves access to safer alternatives while ensuring informed choices,” he revealed.
He said it is important to be incognizant that there are those in the tobacco industry business and there is need to make sure that they are involved in dialogues if countries are to curb tobacco related health complication with regards to public health.
“Problems cannot be tackled without involving those contributing to it hence those who are into tobacco business comprises those individuals and companies who are engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products,” he noted.
Further he emphasized it is imperative for countries to have a culture of accountability in healthcare system which includes clear policies and procedures.
Dr Letlape also highlighted his perspectives on the World Health Organization, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. Since its entry into force in 2005, this international treaty has become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations (UN) history.
He pointed out its precincts in taking into consideration the embryonic setting of tobacco alternatives.
He said the time FCTC framework was agreed 2005, there was one alternative to combustion which is Snus an oral smokeless tobacco product which is usually placed behind the upper lip, either in a loose form or in portioned sachets.
“The framework at the time considered traditional tobacco consumption methods, and now there is emergence of innovative alternatives such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette), heat-not-burn products, and nicotine pouches has remodeled the tobacco industry, which most people are now opting for,” said Dr Letlape.
“Now there is the new “I Quit Ordinary Smoking” (IQOS) is being promoted as a potentially less harmful alternative not only compared to smoking traditional cigarettes but also compared to vaping electronic cigarettes. Uses different technology , heat-not-burn products are different from e-cigarettes because they use actual tobacco, not the flavored e-liquid typically found in e-cigarettes. The concept behind heat-not-burn is that it allows users to experience what looks and feels like smoking a regular cigarette without inhaling combusted tobacco,”.
Since the early 2000s transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) have developed interests in newer nicotine and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, also known as electronic delivery systems, or (ENDS), heated tobacco products (HTPs), snus and nicotine pouches. Companies have referred to these types of product as ‘next generation products’ (NGPs) although terminology changes over time.
He added that there is an ongoing scientific and policy debate about the role of these products in tobacco control, with concerns around long term health effects, marketing to youth, and how this diversification may help the industry to build credibility and influence policy makers.
Lastly he emphasized that in making sure that public health is protected there is need for healthcare professionals to disseminating accurate information and observing to ethical standards,” he noted.
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