Ouagadougou: The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a meeting this Wednesday for the benefit of parliamentarians of the People's Legislative Assembly (ALP), with a view to strengthening their commitment in the fight against smoking, a real public health problem.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jo«l Arthur Kiendrebeogo, emphasized that tobacco is a silent killer responsible for over 8 million deaths globally each year. He highlighted that the situation in Burkina Faso is particularly concerning. This advocacy meeting is aimed at mobilizing parliamentarians to intensify efforts towards creating a tobacco-free Burkina Faso.
Dr. Kiendrebeogo shared that smoking prevalence in Burkina Faso stands at 13.6%, based on a 2021 survey. Men aged 30 to 44 are the most affected, with a prevalence rate of 24.3%, leading to more than 4,000 recorded deaths. In response to this alarming situation, the government adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006, followed by a national law in 2010. These measures have contributed to reducing the smoking prevalence from 19.8% in 2013 to 13.6% in 2021. However, new products such as shisha and nicotine derivatives continue to pose challenges.
The discussions with ALP deputies are intended to identify effective strategies to curb smoking and improve population well-being. Esther Bamouni/Kansono, coordinator of the ALP Network of Parliamentarians on Health, Population and Development, expressed the MPs' commitment to deepening discussions on combating tobacco use in Burkina Faso. She noted that smoking particularly affects young people in schools, cities, and rural areas, impacting public health and the national economy.
The WHO representative in Burkina Faso, Dr. Seydou Coulibaly, commended the authorities for their anti-smoking efforts. He reiterated that tobacco remains a public health emergency, with approximately 8 million deaths per year worldwide. Alarmingly, about 1.3 million of these deaths involve non-smokers affected by passive smoking. Dr. Coulibaly emphasized that despite existing laws, new tobacco products are often wrongly perceived as harmless, particularly by young people. He expressed hope that parliamentarians will facilitate the adoption of a new revised version of the anti-smoking law following the meeting.