Almost two years after the passage of the Tobacco Control Act, the Tobacco Control Council was officially launched and held its first meeting yesterday.
The meeting, which was held at the Health Sector Development Unit’s (HSDU) Camp Street office, saw the council engaging Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence on strategies that can be used for national tobacco control.
The council comprises government, non-government and civil society organisations. Sitting on the council are Coordinator of Chronic Diseases in the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Dr Kavita Singh, Technical Officer attached to the MoPH Dr Mayon Amsterdam, Guyana Revenue Authority representative Mahadeo Ramjag, Guyana National Bureau of Standards representative Shailendra Rai, Assistant Director of Sports Melissa Dow-Richards, Director of Artistes in Direct Support Desiree Edghill, representative of the Giving Hope Foundation Dr Latoya Gooding, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who is the council’s chairman, and Kesaundra Alves, who serves as the legal officer for the council.
Lawrence, in addressing the council, said that with staggering worldwide figures on tobacco use, the administration cannot stand idly by but must do something to effect change. She thanked the members who accepted the invitation to serve on the council, saying that their presence attests to their commitment towards ensuring that Guyanese enjoy the best of health.
“We are aware that through combative action that we all will ensure that we provide some protection from the tobacco,” Lawrence said. The minister later pressed the council to present her with all details so that the decisions made at the higher level can benefit all.
The Tobacco Control Act, which was passed in July 2017, targets smoking in indoor public places and bans the advertising of tobacco products. The Act bans smoking at all indoor workplaces, public transport and strictly regulates the sale of cigarettes, while creating reporting requirements for manufacturers, wholesale distributors and importers.
“The Act bans smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces and public transportation and any vehicle transporting a minor and specified outdoor spaces…like parks, playgrounds, places for sports and recreation, health facilities, educational facilities so there are certain specified spaces in the legislation,” Alves said, as she addressed the members of the council. The legal officer added that as part of the Act, there is a complete ban on the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, which, in turn, means that the products are not to be displayed.
Alves added that the sale of single cigarettes is banned. “There’s also a ban on the sale of single cigarettes because now we have these graphic health warnings on tobacco packages and it would defeat the purpose if someone could loose up that pack and sell a single cigarette so we want them to sell them in intact packages,” she said.
She emphasised that with that ban, it would become harder for underage persons to purchase cigarettes and have access to tobacco products. She clarified that the sale of tobacco products are not banned but they cannot be sold in certain places like healthcare facilities, recreational, educational and sports facilities, along with any government buildings.
“The Act requires that rotating pictorial and text health warnings [be placed] on a minimum of 60 per cent on the top portion of tobacco products’ packaging and labeling so that’s what the law requires and that’s what we have and we have passed regulations to allow for this to come into effect,” Alves told the council.
The legal advisor added that the passing of the Act did not come without interference from the tobacco industry.
The council will be looking at the way forward as it relates to the training of enforcement officers, raising public awareness and sensitisation for suppliers, vendors and persons who are meant to comply with the Act.
