Brenda Yufeh
11 July 2007
Most billboards carrying tobacco publicity in Yaounde have been ragged.
Be it from the Obili neighbourhood in Yaounde, passing through the Basic Education roundabout, to down town or the Bastos and Nlongkak roundabouts, one can not be indifferent to the absence of attractive billboards which use to carry publicity on tobacco. Messages and images on these billboards have been removed. This is in conformity with the law promulgated by the Head of State on 29 December 2006 on tobacco publicity. Article 39 of the law forbids publicity of tobacco in Cameroon and even the sponsorship of activities by tobacco firms. Parties concerned with the application and respect of the law are already at work. They have started by removing existing tobacco publicity banners in town.
Many people seem not to understand what is happening. Some days back, many students at the University of Yaounde I where taken aback when they saw the large tobacco publicity banner around the university removed. The Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health, Daniel Sibetcheu, says these are some of the measures taken by the government to stop the use of tobacco in Cameroon.
Noting that the Head of State in 2005 ratified the World Health Organisation framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which covers many domains such as complete band on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, Daniel Sibetcheu, says it is time for action given that parties concerned had six months of grace to apply the 2006 law.
On 28 June 2007, a meeting took place between all parties concerned with the application of the law on tobacco publicity in Cameroon. After the meeting, the Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health says all parties have accepted to respect the law in their sector. While the Ministry of Higher Education promised not to accept scholarships from the British Tobacco Company in Cameroon, the Ministry of Secondary Education engaged in making sure that there is no tobacco smoking around school premises. Other ministries such as the Ministries of Justice and Communication promised to respect the law as well.
Daniel Sibetcheu says one week after the dateline against tobacco publicity, there are already positive signs from different parties. Tobacco control experts note that they are currently observing how the law is being applied and in three months they are going to evaluate the progress made. According to those involved in tobacco control, if the law on publicity is effectively applied many things will change.
However cigarette stands and other publicity tools used by tobacco firms such as umbrellas are still seen around town particularly with traders of tobacco. Experts say these things have to vanish.
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