Malawi to consider public smoking ban

Jan 11, 2016 Health 154
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No more public smoking.

The ministry of health says it will consider a ban on smoking in public places to minimise chronic diseases that come with the practice.

Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume made the remarks in reaction to findings by the World Health Organization (WHO) which show that public smoking is becoming extra hazardous to non-smokers in countries like Malawi where the practice is still unrestricted.

Kumpalume suggested that it is high time the country implemented laws restricting public smoking.

”I am aware of such problems and my suggestion is that it’s time we start strategizing on implementing laws to ban public smoking in the country. It is my belief that, that way we will minimize problems [that comes with public smoking],” he said.

Kumpalume also expressed worry over the rise in the practice especially in private homes saying it puts at risk the lives of family members who are non-smokers.

Peter Kumpalume
Kumpalume: Govt is revisiting the matter.

“My worry is that the practice has gone as far as in private homes. That extent will however be very difficult to restrict the same but laws have to be implemented,” he added.

According to the WHO report, the smoke that comes from the tip of a cigarette is more dangerous than the smoke puffed by the smoker.

People exposed to smoke from the tip of the cigarette may be prone to numerous diseases such as lung cancer.

Malawi is one of world’s main tobacco growers but it is yet to implement laws illegalizing public smoking thus some avid smokers are still carelessly smoking in public places.

In random interviews across Mzuzu city on Saturday, most people encouraged government to implement laws that will restrict public smoking. They said that public smoking is also more dangerous to people suffering from other respiratory diseases like asthma.

“When they smoke some of us suffering from asthma really feel panicky and usually it is bad and I echo government decision to ban the practice,” said Jane Mkandawire.

Another resident, Armstrong Banda, emphasized that public smoking is not that good to non-smokers as regards the findings which indicate that they are the ones at a great disadvantage.

However, others suggested that the smokers have the right to smoke wherever they want.

“In times like these where everyone has the right to do whatever he enjoys, it will somehow be violating the rights of smokers to restrict public smoking. Government should just leave them,” said David Chirwa.

Meanwhile the ministry of health in the country has maintained that smoking is more hazardous to life thus smokers must continue smoking at their own risk.

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154 Comments

  1. Bola akadati anthu azikwatana public bwezi anthutooooose titakondwela kuti chimenecho ndie chitukuko choposa zitukuko zose paziko lapasi

  2. Panyapanu nose pamozi ndi mutalika wanuyo akaloleze vopunya ngati vinevo mumuuze muthalikawanuyo mbolo take yosadulayo

  3. Zilibwino pozindikila kuti fodya akubweretsa matenda,good idear.koma inu opanga lamulo mukuvomereza homox mukudziwa kuti nthenda yomwe imabwela akagonana amuna okhaokha ndiyoopsya kuposa yafodya? Munthu onyenga mamuna nzake pakapita miyezi bowi wachokodzera chake umasekeka chifukwa chamanyi amene amakhala akupopa pang’ono ndipang’o konyera kwanzakeyo.ndipo zosatira zake akapita kuchimbuzi amatuluka ndimanyiokha koma mkodzo sutuluka chifukwa bowi umakhala wasekeka ndimsete dzomwe amapopa kwatonde mzakeyo.komanso onyengedwayo amangotupa mimba ziphuphu kumaso mapeto ndiimfa.mwina zinthuzi muvomereza komasimudziwa kuipa kwake.tsoka kwaiwe otengera usakudzidziwa kuipa kwake.mind ur

  14. Chikopah xristopher BC inunso muli gulu laumbuli lomwero masapota abullets si onse amasuta komaso ndkutali nd za bullets mwangoifuna musayambileso tikhoza kubwera kunyumba kwanu mutiuze bwino ife a bullets

  18. and what will become of the green gold farmers? The revenues what is going to happen? Chabwino letsani ku lima fodya ndiyetu mwamva,because the same people akukuuzani zimenezi they are the biggest buyers!

  19. Chokani, ndende mulinazo zoikamo anthu afodya, ndinu zitsilu kwambiri, mukuwasiya akuba mankhala mzipatala, tose achingabwe more fire asatipusise

  26. Asa! Munalesa Masatchet Mwalesaso Manip Mukulesaso Kubanda Koma Kuloleza Homo Eish!

  29. I do not know the extent of exposure to growers and processors of tobacco. In village settings one smells tobacco day and night during the processing period hard to ban this

  30. I do not know the extent of exposure to growers and processors of tobacco. In village settings one smells tobacco day and night during the processing period hard to ban this

  32. Kkkkkkkkkkkkk this one is a loughing one kkkkkkkk thank you so much mr minister and your ministry for the joke well potrayed

  37. They should also consider banning drinking beer during morning hours .i.e. up 12 noon. people should first do there daily jobs before having a sip, plus they should not drink after 8 PM

  38. Za zea! Mufuna mulese kusuta fodya mukatero anthu azipanga mathanyula pa public! Forsake ndiye bola mukanangopanga legallise Chamba kusiyana ndivomereza mathanyula

  47. Shaa Ufulu Wakuyankhula Koma Anthu Akuganiziranso Ufulu Wa Anthu Osasuta Sakuti Musamasutetu Ayi Koma Malo Osutila Ngat Pali Anthu Osasuta Sunthan Mukasutire Pambali Panokha Dats It

  48. Mukafuna kudyera ndalama boma mumatero ngati mukufuna kusiyisa public smoke musiyenso kuli chingabwe . Ngati akuona usi osasutayo adzingo chokapo nkhan yatha muwauze anthu anuwo keep burning fire

  50. You have alot of job to do honestly..much that smoking in,public has a big neg impact to others but I still feel like its not as easy,as they are planning.If there is ready money for this campaign they should better use it for something much important than this. Inetu,muzachita kundimanga tu…hahahahaha.Good move though.

  53. They are banning general smoking but banning *public smoking* which is thee cause of Passive smoking. Passing smoking offers 80% chances for nonsmockers in vicinity of those smoking, of developing adverses effects encountered in smokers.

  93. Mwasowa chokamba agalu inu malo molimbana ndi ma gay mukulimbana ndi bande hahahahahaha sindingasiye ganja pano ndikubandila pakauta

  95. Mwasowa chokamba agalu inu malo molimbana ndi ma gay mukulimbana ndi bande hahahahahaha sindingasiye ganja pano ndikubandila pakauta

  96. Izi ndie nzeruzo. mmachedwa pati anzanu anapanga kale lamulo limeneri and linafikaso pokalamba. eeee koma Malawi kuchedwa pazinthu.

    1. Palibe kuvutanso ayi ngati zili choncho a President wa alephera kukwanitsa zomwe anzawo amakwanitsa,tawonani njala but no hope,instead akubweretsa umathanyula yet akudziwa bwino kuti mulungu sakondwa ndi mchitidweu,chachiwiri komanso chomaliza fundo imeneyo ndiyosatheka,wanthu anayamba kusuta kalekale lero ndiye akawawuze kuti asamasute poyera, ndalama zogulira tom tom yo zawo zandani?

  105. Mwachita bwino amawonjeza kungosuta palipose zasalila zafidyazo amatayaso polipose ana kumatolaso kumayikaso kukamwa azisuta mwaulemu osati palipose zivele mutolo kkkk

  111. I do see many things to be banned even bitches on towns streets they are spreading HIV/AIDS still more to be banned!

  112. My grandfather still alive he stated smoking stardad 5 at 8yrs now is 95yrs still alive and strong so what kind of disease u talking about IF DONT SMOKE DONT TALK ABOUT SMOKING

  126. good idea, even in USA they are proposing smoking ban even in homes. so the alawi case is a puzzle to solve. president mutharika has hinted that malawi will continue to grow tobaco irespective of the anti smoking lobby world wide which implies it being dificult to insitute a smoking embargo in malawi. ministrer of agriculture himself dr chiyembekexa is on top championing for continued tobaco production. the eqation will be muthatika plus chiyembekexa multiplied by mwanamveka over kumpalume to the power WHO open bracket FCTC…..

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