| Summary: | Background and challenges to implementation
Studies have shown that, the use of tobacco is
still on the increase in the Gambia especially among the youth folk of the
populace. Several studies were conducted over the years to determine the
prevalence of tobacco use in different contexts showed interesting revelations. Tobacco use prevalence: Male 34%,
Female 1.5% (WHO 2010)
youth aged 13-15 years 24% (GYTS
2008); no data on smokeless tobacco Even though, Gambia has made significant
achievements over the past years on tobacco control, there´s no proper implementation
or effective enforcement plan for tobacco control legislation that will
minimize the use of tobacco among young people in the Gambia.
Intervention or response
The Gambia has developed a tobacco control strategy and
enforcement of various tobacco control legislation, particularly the
Prohibition of Smoking (in public places) and Ban on advertisement of tobacco
products in 2003, packaging and labeling of tobacco product in October 2010 and the recent comprehensive
tobacco control law in December 30 th 2016.
Results and lessons learnt
1. Coordination is very powerful in tobacco
control
2.The connection between government institutions
and civil society is indeed crucial for tobacco control
3. The involvement of youths, women's group and
religious leaders is essential in tobacco control
4. Advocacy, sensitization and awareness
creation on tobacco among the different age cohort is crucial
5. The involvement of media fraternity in
tobacco control is needed
Conclusions and key recommendations
1. Strengthen coordination between the civil
society tobacco control advocates, multi-sectoral working group and law enforcement body for effective and
efficient control and implementation of the comprehensive tobacco control law in the Gambia
2. Build the capacity of tobacco control
advocates particularly the CSO, journalist/ or Health journalist at country level to effectively monitor and control tobacco 3. Provide Evidence through research and expertise on TC
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