School going children are supposed to be educated and cautioned on the negative effects of tobacco to keep them off from indulging in the habit of smoking, Tobacco Control Board vice chairperson, Nancy Gachoka has said. Addressing health stakeholders from Kiambu county in Kiambu town on Wednesday, Gachoka noted that primary and secondary school students have been easy targets for cigarette manufacturers owing to their ignorance on the impact of smoking tobacco.
The Vice Chairperson who toured the county divulged that considering the addictive nature of tobacco, once the young people are introduced into smoking, it would be hard for them to abandon the habit when they grow up increasing their risk of developing cancer. Gachoka said some primary and secondary school students are involved in the habit, saying the trend is worrying.
“Tobacco is known to cause various types of cancer and is worrying to see young people involved in smoking putting their lives at risk, knowing health implications of tobacco consumption," she added. Gachoka urged teachers to be good role model to their students by avoid smoking in their presence or to shun completely the a habit of consuming tobacco. She explained that members of the board are going around different places in the country sensitizing members of the public on the impact of tobacco, arguing that the rate of smoking particularly in Kiambu County had slightly gone down.
On the implementation of Tobacco Act 2007, the vice chairperson said that the law enforcers and county governments should fully ensure the law is implemented in their areas of jurisdiction.
“Although the law had come into force several years ago, we can witness some people selling single stick of cigarette and also see other smoking in public places which is contrary to the law," she said. She said the Act’s regulations are expected to be enacted soon, calling on all people to embrace the regulations after they are passed by the parliament.
“The regulations of the Act will enable us to publish pictorial warnings on cigarette packets and this will caution people on hazards of smoking,” said Gachoka.