Leaders in Arua District want government to put a total and complete ban on tobacco growing and consumption in the country.
This decision was reached during an engagement meeting that involved the journalists, leaders of the district and the ministry of health on Monday 21/11/2022 at Crane Resort Hotel in Arua city.
According to the disease surveillance focal person of Arua District, - Mr. Norman Cwinyaai, the rampant growing and consumption of tobacco in West Nile sub region is causing a lot of mental health disorders among the residents as well as other Tobacco associated disease hence an urgent call for the government to ban its growing and consumption s to avoid such health issues.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Arua, Hamza Mazamil Enzama similarly requested that there be a total ban on growing of tobacco and consumption in the country to avoid losing more lives due to consumption of ciggarate that can cause lung cancer.
Mr. Luiji Candini, Secretary for works says Tobacco growing is dragging the region backward.
The Environment Officer of Kampala Capital City Authority, Peter SSentenda appealed to the district leaders to sensitize the community on the Tobacco control act of 2015 to reduce the growth and consumption of tobacco in the region.
The Program Officer of Ministry of Health Control Tobacco, Patience Butesi admitted that enforcing the Tobacco Control Act is very challenging since government also collects revenue from the business.
Part 10 of the act of 2015 Tobacco control act imposes General penalty on a person found smoking in public places. One of the penalty is a person who commits an offense under the act for which penalty is provide is liable to; A fine of 480,000 Ug shs, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.
STORY BY: ANWANGKANI FRANCO - Dailywestnile.info
