Bahamas News
05-10-05, - 01:23 AM
Gov’t To Ban Smoking In Public Places
Royanne Forbes
The Bahama Journal
More than 60,000 or 21 percent of Bahamians are smokers, according to the most recent health statistics.
Of that figure, 18 percent are reportedly men and three percent are women.
Minister of Health Senator Dr. Marcus Bethel believes these figures are cause for great concern.
He told The Bahama Journal recently that the government remains committed to the agreement it signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The aim is to ban smoking in public places.
Dr. Bethel explained what the significance of such a move will be.
"It is important because it is primarily a public health issue and that is the reason why globally, the Framework Convention has been developed and it is out of the efforts of the World Health Organization that the framework convention was developed. So it is presented and it is designed to improve public health," Dr. Bethel explained.
"It has been determined that smoking causes tremendous morbidity and mortality in populations that use tobacco. Morbidity means sickness, sickness in the form of emphzema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and some of the common cancers in other parts of the body. So it is a major public health issues because of the large numbers of people who get sick and die from cigarette smoking."
Under the agreement, the government would be obligated to incorporate the FCTC’s provisions into national laws and regulations designed to control tobacco use and save lives.
According to Dr. Bethel, there is a three to five year timeframe for the government to implement measures that will ensure tobacco packaging has strong health warnings and impose comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorship.
In 2002, The Bahamas reportedly imported 872,000 cases of tobacco with a street value of over $6 million.
Dr. Bethel said that over the years his Ministry has consistently supported and ensured implementation of WHO guidelines and recommendations, and will continue doing so to keep the public sensitized to the dangers of smoking.
Royanne Forbes
The Bahama Journal
More than 60,000 or 21 percent of Bahamians are smokers, according to the most recent health statistics.
Of that figure, 18 percent are reportedly men and three percent are women.
Minister of Health Senator Dr. Marcus Bethel believes these figures are cause for great concern.
He told The Bahama Journal recently that the government remains committed to the agreement it signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The aim is to ban smoking in public places.
Dr. Bethel explained what the significance of such a move will be.
"It is important because it is primarily a public health issue and that is the reason why globally, the Framework Convention has been developed and it is out of the efforts of the World Health Organization that the framework convention was developed. So it is presented and it is designed to improve public health," Dr. Bethel explained.
"It has been determined that smoking causes tremendous morbidity and mortality in populations that use tobacco. Morbidity means sickness, sickness in the form of emphzema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and some of the common cancers in other parts of the body. So it is a major public health issues because of the large numbers of people who get sick and die from cigarette smoking."
Under the agreement, the government would be obligated to incorporate the FCTC’s provisions into national laws and regulations designed to control tobacco use and save lives.
According to Dr. Bethel, there is a three to five year timeframe for the government to implement measures that will ensure tobacco packaging has strong health warnings and impose comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorship.
In 2002, The Bahamas reportedly imported 872,000 cases of tobacco with a street value of over $6 million.
Dr. Bethel said that over the years his Ministry has consistently supported and ensured implementation of WHO guidelines and recommendations, and will continue doing so to keep the public sensitized to the dangers of smoking.