The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit under the Directorate of Health Promotions and Education, Ministry of Health, has warned sellers of Café Touba {a coffee beverage that is a popular traditional drink of Senegal but now popular in Gambia too} and other people to stop selling single sticks of cigarettes to smokers.
This is one-year grant from the Tobacco Policy Action Fund for Africa (ToPAFA) under the Management Health Science (MSH) in reducing tobacco use through health promotion and enforcement of the Tobacco Control (TC) laws in The Gambia. The project is in four phases and the second phase is on the verge of completion.
However, the project is looking at the following areas in TC: Graphic health warnings (GHW) on the tobacco products packaging, ban on tobacco products advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and 100% smoke free public spaces.
Meanwhile, during its recent quarterly press briefing on their activities on tobacco control in the Gambia from October to December, held at the Central Medical Stores in Kotu, the Programme Officer for NCD, Ms. Sainabou B. Cham, indicated that the people selling Café Touba are selling single cigarette sticks to smokers.
In tobacco smoke-free environment, the law says every person has a right to tobacco smoke-free environment and a person consuming a tobacco product shall ensure that he or she does not expose another person to a tobacco smoker.
She reminded the public of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, saying the law says all forms of tobacco advertisement, promotion on sponsorship including cross-border are prohibited.
Programme Officer Cham further told the press cigarettes should be sold in a packet and that the packet should contain nothing less than 20 sticks of cigarette; and the labeling of such products should conform with the packaging and labeling prescribed by the minister.
Cham admitted one of the areas that are difficult to control is the Tourist Development Areas (TDAs) because children smoke freely there, and she cited limited funding also as a challenge they face in strengthening enforcement.
