WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2015 COMMEMORATION, NATA- BOTSWANA

On May 29th 2015, ATN joined joined hundreds of people in Nata Village to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day 2015. The commemoration was held under the theme 'Stop illicit trade of tobacco products'. This theme addressed the current challenge faced by many countries, Botswana included, of illicit trade of tobacco products that continue to jeopardize people's health.

According to the WHO website, Illicit trade is not a problem just in high-income countries; almost all countries throughout the world are subject to illicit trade in some form or another. In response to the threat posed by illicit tobacco trade, the international community negotiated and adopted in November 2012 the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, the first protocol to the WHO FCTC.

The aim of the campaign was therefore to educate the public on how illicit trade of tobacco products has affected young people's health due to their easy accessibility as well as affordability as they are sold at lower prices. Furthermore the campaigned raised an awareness on how the illicit trade undermine tobacco control policies, among others. 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude  to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for the immense support!

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MOTHER PONTSHO FOUNDATION LAUNCH

On Saturday 18 October 2014  ATN joined hands with other community organizations at the launch of Mother Pontsho Foundation in Mmopane.

The tobacco industry for decades has targeted youth in its marketing, and studies show that as much as a third of underage experimentation with smoking can be attributed to these marketing efforts hence Ninety percent of all adult smokers begin the deadly addiction as teenagers.

The Anti Tobacco Network through our campaign targeted to prevention of youth tobacco initiation is therefore working with other community organizations to raise awareness on the ugly impact of tobacco use.

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OF Tobacco, Poverty, Cultural Myths and Botswana

Watch AT https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=503505046408420&set=vb.339264209517028&type=2&theater

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Third Health Professionals Workshop

9-10 July 2013
Francistown
Cresta Thapama Hotel

Mr. John Moloi officially opening the workshop

The Anti Tobacco Network conducted a two day workshop for health workers in Francistown in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO and the District Health Management Team (DHMT) on the 9-10th of July 2013 in Francistown, Cresta Thapama Hotel.


The workshop is a third in a series of workshops that started in Gaborone in late March and later on went to Maun and finally came to Francistown. Introducing the objectives Thabo Katlholo, ATN Administrative Assistant indicated that these workshops were aimed at increasing the level of awareness on tobacco and its impact on health, the economy and the environment. The workshops are also intended to familiarize the media, civil societies and health workers on the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as well as the Botswana Control of Smoking Act plus to sensitize them on the tactics used by the tobacco industry to interfere with government's efforts and initiatives to control tobacco.

Group Discussions

The other objective of the workshop was to involve the participating stakeholders in the planning of the I Dont Want To Be A Walking Billboard For The Tobacco Industry campaign which will be launched in Francistown on the 30th of August, 2013 as agreed by the workshop participants.

Workshop Highlight

Mr. Kgotlaetsile Moube listening in
during discussions

Usage of tobacco and CULTURE - Kids are given snuff to curb nose-bleeding. Participants emphasized that people burn snuff and use the smoke to "stop" the nose bleeding. Participants further cited the fact that tobacco is also used ("degwe" Ikalanga) to pay lobola in Bukalanga. Tobacco narrows blood vessels and therefore circulation becomes very poor. However, there is treatment that can be done instead of tobacco. Participants went further on to list many other examples of the "myths" that link cultural beliefs and tobacco consumption especially chewing tobacco. Dr. Bontle Mbongwe, Interim Executive Director of the Anti Tobacco Network said these cultural practices cannot be ignored but they have to be approached in such a way that it will not enrage the community. It was suggested that there is a need for a study on cultural practices and tobacco use. Health educators have to establish the cultural beliefs about smoking before they start on campaigns regarding tobacco use.

Health workers - Group
discussions

Resolution: Health workers were edged to include tobacco consumption issues on their health talks and give ATN some of those stories that link tobacco to cultural beliefs and activities.


1. Pressing Tobacco Control Issues in Ftwn
   a) Illegal products - Francistown is closer to the border
   b) Law enforcers concentrate in Francistown than in villages near the city
   c) Cultural beliefs and tobacco use

2. Activities to address this:
   a) Health education - community, school kids, parents, law enforcement officers and retailers.
   b) Dissemination IEC material that show the dangers of tobacco use
   c) Development of a comprehensive tobacco control bill in Botswana
   d) Lobby for funding for research that targets tobacco consumption and cultural beliefs

Group Discussions & Presentations

Workshop Recommendations

Formation of Anti Tobacco Committe - To develop and monitor the tobacco control plan. These should be led by the chosen committe which will spearhead these movement. Benchmarking in other towns that have carried out the campaign. The group also recommended school health fairs. The committe should coordinate with school health clubs and various other school clubs to address tobbaco consumption issues.

The workshop participants strongly felt that tobacco issues need to be addressed extensively and opened for the communities to engage in through Talk Shows (Maokaneng, Molemo-Wa-Kgang, Tsa Botsogo etc.). It was also expressed that new approaches are essential in educating our communities. The posters need to be more innovative. These new strategies should evolve with the mindsets of our people. There was also a call for training of Health Professionals on issues of Cessation.

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World No Tobacco Day, May 2013 - Maun, Botswana

Key messages - World No Tobacco Day 2013

All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship should be banned

Advertising bans significantly reduce the numbers of people starting and continuing to smoke. Banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco use.

The tobacco industry is constantly trying new promotional tactics using nontraditional media to exploit advertising and promotion bans

Examples include:

Ø  handing out gifts and selling branded products such as clothing, in particular targeting young people

Ø  “stealth marketing” such as engaging trendsetters to influence people in places such as cafes and nightclubs

Ø  using online and new media, such as encouraging consumer interaction to design a new pack for a cigarette brand

Ø  placement of tobacco products and brands in films and television programmes, including reality TV and soap operas

Ø  corporate social responsibility activities such as donating to charity.

Tobacco industry advertising and sponsorship target young people

About one third of youth experimentation with tobacco occurs as a result of exposure to tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Worldwide, 78% of young people aged 13-15 years report regular exposure to some form of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Young people aged 13-15 years are up to five times more likely than adults to be offered free cigarettes by a representative of a tobacco company.

Most people using tobacco products start doing so before the age of 20.

A comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is required under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

A comprehensive ban reduces tobacco consumption regardless of a country’s income level.

WHO's report on the global tobacco epidemic 2011 shows that only 19 countries (representing just 6% of the world’s population) have reached the highest level of achievement in banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Call to action

WHO urges governments to ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship as part of the full implementation of the WHO FCTC and to be mindful of tactics used by the tobacco industry to evade these laws. Legislation should be properly enforced.

Charities and community projects should never accept tobacco industry support. Tobacco companies use corporate social responsibility activities to promote themselves as good corporate citizens, normalizing tobacco use and creating goodwill in the community.

Consumers should be alert to tactics used by tobacco companies to exploit advertising and promotion bans.

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Media and NGO Workshop, Maun Lodge - 16-17th May, 2013

Comments, Discussions and Recommendations
 

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Media and NGO Workshop Maun

Maun Lodge

16-17th May 2013

Discussions and Comments

1. Thato Molosi – Poetavango: The importance of new education techniques to educate the public since it seems like the existing methods are not as effective as we would like them to be.

RESPONSE: The approach is dependent on the person you are directing the message to. If you are advising a smoker you have to assess their situation considering many factors like; their education level, their level of addiction, and gender. If you are talking to men about tobacco use you have to use different strategies like the fact that smoking has a major impact on impotence and men's reproductive health, however when the message was directed to women the might be crafted in such a way that it will make emphasis on the fact that smoking elevates aging. “Issues should not be forced into people but people should be allowed to introspect for themselves and think about issues then make an informed decision”

2. The relation between tobacco and other drugs such as marijuana and alcohol – some people use Marijuana to mask the smell of tobacco or vise vesa. Cigarettes may also act as a gateway drug for smokeless tobacco which has as devastating effects as cigarettes
   RESPONSE: Tobacco is a gateway drug for many other drugs like Marijuana, cocaine, sextacy, ecstacy and heroine. Major tertiary institutions and secondary schools are facing this huge predicament
    
3. The decentralization of the Anti Tobacco Network to other localities – Are these three workshops adequate and do they reach the different people across Botswana?
   RESPONSE: ATN believes in empowering local communities and training specialists instead of creating offices across the country. These networks of stakeholders, NGOs and health professionals that ATN is building should be equiped by the end of these training exercises, to effectively pass the messages on to their different communities.

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Health Professionals Workshop Maun, Maun Lodge

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14-15th May 2013

Discussions and Comments

1. The need to explain what tobacco is when we make presentations and to relate tobacco related issues to alcohol use since the two go hand-in hand
   1. Tobacco plant is not the same as a cigarette – because a cigarette contains more substances (7000>)
   2. Pesticides used in growing tobacco – lead, sulphur
2. The need for research on tobacco affiliated issues – It does not need to be done by university scholars, it can be done in villages and municipalities, and this workshop can be used as a baseline or reflection point in carrying out the research in clinics.
3. Why dont we ban tobacco use totally in Botswana?
4. The benefits of tobacco use -
   1. Employment - Is it a benefit?
      1. Tobacco has no benefits! - The scale between public health and trade. The bigger impact that tobacco use has in economies cannot be overlooked. A clear example is Malawi, a big tobacco producer but remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Money is channeled into health facilities to provide healthcare to or for people affected by cancers, and other non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco use.
   2. Are there any benefits of tobacco use to the smoker? - NO!!
5. What the Health professionals are doing in their respective workplaces to address the CSA
   1. More emphasis is put on alcohol than tobacco in clinics unless a patient has TB or a cough
6. The need for a Setswana version of the Control of Smoking Act (CSA)– because most people in underdeveloped rural settlements do not have a grasp on the english language
7. Smoking in public places and at the workplace sections of the CSA need to be emphasized and implemented
8. Prices of alcohol have been increased and alcohol consumption has not reduced – how will increasing taxes
   1. Tobacco is not manufactured in Botswana like alcohol therefore increases in taxes will reduce importation of tobacco into the country hence lessening consumption of tobacco in the country.
9. The need to make the CSA more accessible or make it cheap (FREE) – Extract the CSA's forestanding content and distribute IEC's for free
10. Collaborations with workplace Health and wellness committees
11. Duty of persons to protect others from smoke
    
    

    

    Mr. Thuso - Officially opening the workshop for Health Professionals

    
    

    

    Day 1 & 2 Particiants - Health Professionals in the Ngami area who attended the workshop

    1. 1. 

          Group Presentations - Staff member of Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital presenting his group's observations and understanding of the tobacco use situation in the North West district of Botswana.

          

          Maun Tribal staff member - Group Discussions concerning the Control of Smoking Act and observations of violations in the North West District

          

          Staff member of Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital, Ethel presenting her group's discussion and comments on the Control of Smoking Act.

          

          Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital's Matshediso France deliberating her group discussions on the Control of Smoking Act

          

          Participants at the Health Professionals workshop, Maun Lodge, Maun - 14-15th May 2013

          

          Participants listening attentively to the deliberations (group presentations) at the Health professionals workshop - Maun

          
          

          

          From Left to Right: Staff member of MVA Maun and an employee at the North West District Council Environmental Health office during the group discussions.

          

          Group Discussions

          
          

          

          A participant at the Health Professionals workshop, Maun Lodge, Maun - 14-15th May 2013

          
          

          

          Participants from clinic in the North West District

          
          

          

          Ethel from Letsholathebe Hospital in Maun, contributing during discussions

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