A protester sensitising the public on hazards of using tobacco products [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
About 10 per cent of school-going children of the 13-15 years age bracket use tobacco products.
This is according to a report released by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
During the recent launch of the national guidelines on tobacco dependence, treatment and cessation of 2017, MoH said that more girls than boys are taking up smoking at alarming rates.
Speaking at the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), Deputy Director of Medical Services Patrick Amoth disclosed that the youth have adopted use of other tobacco products including shisha, tobacco chewing and electric cigarettes.
According to Amoth, 15 per cent of total disposable income is spent on tobacco, leaving very little earnings for the basic necessities.
The Tobacco Control Board (TCB) Secretary Kepha Ombacho said that tobacco-related non-communicable diseases are at par with communicable diseases and therefore cause a burden on the country.
He reached out to the Judiciary to hasten a court case involving the British American Tobacco (BAT) aiming to challenge regulations that, among others, coerce companies to include graphic and text health hazards on cigarette packets and also disclose the various tobacco product ingredients.