Lara Adejoro Tobacco use among young people in the African Region, aged 13 to 15 years is about seven million, the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has revealed. She stated this in her message to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, noting that young people are exposed to tobacco products through extensive social media use, streaming platform campaigns, and social media influencers. The annual WNTD campaign is commemorated on May 31 to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use.
This year’s theme is, ‘Protecting children from tobacco industry interference’, and is aimed at mobilising international efforts to shield young people from harmful tobacco and nicotine products and the deceptive strategies often used by the tobacco industry to market their products. Moeti said, “This day provides us the opportunity to continue highlighting the dangers associated with tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. “Today, we reflect on our progress in tobacco control while recognizing the challenges in our efforts to stop the tactics employed by the tobacco industry to frustrate tobacco control efforts.
“By this theme, young people across the world have a platform to call out for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful to their health.” According to her, more than 37 million young people aged between 13 and 15 years are using tobacco globally. “In the African Region, tobacc.
