A June 2021 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that of the 1.3 million people who smoke worldwide, 80% of them live in poor and developing countries.80% of smokers live in poor countries, what about Rwanda?
This report also shows that every year, about eight million people die from smoking.
It is at a time when the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows that one in five people who die in the United States will be killed by smoking or other diseases that attack him after drinking.
Research conducted by this center also shows that the life expectancy of a smoker is reduced by 10 years compared to a non-smoker.
WHO also shows that 22.3% of the world’s population 2022 will be smokers, 36.7% of them will be men, and 7.8% will be women.
This report shows that smoking is one of the main causes of extreme poverty among smokers, because most of them do not earn much money, and those who get it, rush to buy cigarettes before taking care of their other needs.
What is the situation in Rwanda?
2019/2020 Gatandatu Social and Health Survey (DHS) shows that 1% of women smoke in Rwanda while 7% of men smoke, and only men with primary school education are part of the group. of the number of people who smoke in Rwanda.
The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, recently spoke in Parliament that Rwanda is putting in place measures aimed at discouraging smokers, given the fact that in 2013 a law regulating the use of tobacco was enacted.
He said, “We are passing the law in 2013, there are some things that have been put in place for people to smoke, the resources they put in will increase and there will be different taxes so that women can buy cigarettes”.
The implementation of this law has yielded results, after which the number of smokers in Rwanda has decreased by 5%.
The National Health Agency (RBC) urges Rwandans to avoid smoking in public and especially around children, as it has a serious impact on their health.
Children who breathe secondhand smoke are at risk of developing respiratory problems, asthma, or dying at an early age.
Women who smoke during pregnancy have been found to have a higher risk of having babies with health problems, including low birth weight or stillbirth.
Law No. 08/2013 of 01/03/2013 regarding the control of tobacco use in Rwanda, generally includes prohibitions on smokers and their products.
These prohibitions include the use of children in the sale of tobacco products and smoking in public.
This law states: “It is prohibited to use a person who has not reached at least eighteen (18) years of age in the trade, purchase, sale, and transfer of tobacco and its derivatives. It is also prohibited to sell tobacco and its products to anyone under eighteen (18) years of age.
The law further states that it is prohibited to smoke in public, workplaces or public places such as business buildings, courts, surrounding areas, factories, movies, theater and video theaters, hospitals, clinics, and other public institutions. medical facilities, restaurants, hotels and bars, and childcare centers.
It is also not allowed to smoke in the areas where we have accommodation and other buildings used for the reception and protection of children or buildings where they live or where they are raised, places of worship, and prisons.
Article 26 of the law states that smoking in public, giving or selling a child, encouraging him, or using him in its trade, are punishable by the punishments provided by the Criminal Code of Rwanda.
