The Stop Smoking Support Group (SSSG) held its first workshop last week to empower and train people on peer counselling. The group that is technically under the guidance of Environmental Health Unit (EHU) aims to help those who want to quit smoking and maintain the abstinence for the rest of their lives. EHU technical officer, Ephraim Rapalai said the group comprises 11 executive committee members, mostly young people and former smokers.

As peer counsellors, members of the group come from different professional backgrounds. Rapalai said that about four million die annually from smoke related illnesses worldwide and 84 percent of those are from developing countries. The group has been empowered to inform the public on the effect of smoking on their health, withdrawal and its side effects.

He said they encourage people to use will power to stop smoking through counselling. Botswana is a signatory to a treaty on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and has amended the Control of Smoking Act in 2004. The Act stipulates that no one should smoke in an enclosed, indoor designated non-smoking area of any private or public workplace or in a public place.

The law also states that premises where smoking is not allowed should physically be detached, if not, they should be separately ventilated. Premises where smoking is permitted should post permanent signs prominently and visibly. Another EHU Technical Officer, Cheng etani Kangangwani said that Botswana restricts advertising, promotion and sponsorship by the tobacco industry.

He added that people mention various reasons for smoking. These include reducing stress, copying others who are smoking and other myths like to stop nose-bleeds. The chair of the executive committee of the group Edward Moroka said he is motivated to help those who smoke to stop, because his uncle died after being warned against the dangers of cigarettes. He intends to use his acting skills to teach people about the dangers of smoking. He has already written a play 'Quit for life.'

The vice president of the group, Tshepo Gobagoba said that people were not aware of the anti-smoking legislation. He said that some people allow young people under 18 to sell cigarettes in kiosks. As a Botswana Defence Force officer, he hopes to help those in the security services who tend to turn to smoking because they are under a lot of stress.

SSSG is in need of financial assistance an d is hoping to establish centres in other parts of the country. They do not have an office.