Niël Terblanché
The minister of health and social services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has called on all citizens to help protect the country’s youth from the tobacco and nicotine industries. Speaking at the national commemoration of World No Tobacco Day in Outjo on Thursday.
Luvindao warned that the global tobacco epidemic continues to claim over 8 million lives every year and remains one of the most serious public health challenges worldwide.
“This day aims to raise awareness about the health hazards associated with tobacco use and to promote the implementation of effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption,” Luvindao said.
She also highlighted the misleading tactics employed by tobacco and nicotine companies.
This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the appeal”, focused on how the industry uses flavoured products, deceptive marketing, and addictive designs to attract young people into lifelong addiction.
Luvindao stressed that all forms of tobacco use are harmful and that there is no safe level of exposure.
“Of the 8 million tobacco-related deaths annually, more than 7 million are due to direct tobacco use, while approximately 1.3 million result from non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke,” she said.
Luvindao noted that tobacco consumption is especially high in low- and middle-income countries, which account for 80% of the 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide.
She explained that this not only worsens public health but also exacerbates poverty, as household income is diverted from essentials like food and housing toward tobacco products.
“Nicotine alters brain chemistry, making cessation difficult,” she said, adding that dependency issues further complicate public health efforts, especially among the youth.
Namibia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005 and has since made significant progress in implementing control measures.
These include a ban on tobacco advertising, a prohibition on smoking in government buildings and public places, restrictions on sales to minors, and encouraging tobacco farmers to switch to other cash crops.
The country also passed the Tobacco Products Control Act in 2010, with regulations introduced in 2014.
In April, the ministry of health conducted a two-week national awareness campaign targeting schools, higher learning institutions, public places, and informal settlements.
Luvindao explained that the campaign aimed to create awareness, promote health, and assess compliance with the Tobacco Products Control Act.
The ministry, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), is reviewing the act to account for emerging products like e-cigarettes, hookah pipes, and vapes.
With over 70% of Namibia’s population under the age of 35, Luvindao emphasised the importance of acting now.
“We must protect and safeguard young people, our children, our families, and our societies from the harmful effects of tobacco and emerging products that are designed to addict and kill,” she said.
She urged Namibians not to delay quitting cigarettes and other tobacco products.
“The time to stop is not tomorrow but today. Your health matters to you, your family, and your community,” she added.
World No Tobacco Day was first introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987.
