Jamaica: Ferguson Repeats Anti-tobacco Bill Promise  

Source from:  Jamaica Observer (jm)  06/06/2013

THE draft anti-tobacco Bill — which, among other things, will ban smoking in public places — is to go before Parliament shortly, Health Minister Fenton Ferguson said on Friday.

"It is about to go to Cabinet," he told the Jamaica Observer after the formalities to mark World No Tobacco Day at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Ferguson refused to be specific when asked about the proposed date of the presentation and about the parameters of the Bill, but earlier in his address he suggested that the legislation would be in place by this time next year.

"Soon, very soon... just a few more steps, I expect that we will have the legislation in place to ban smoking in public spaces," he said.

"When that happens I am going to be calling on the support of everyone within the sound of my voice and beyond to join the Ministry of Health on a mission to make Jamaica a healthier place through less use of tobacco," he continued, repeating an appeal he has been making for some time now.

Ferguson promised, in November last year, to bring the draft Tobacco Control Act to Parliament early this financial year.

"May 31, 2013 will, in my humble opinion, go down in Jamaica's history like none other. It will either be the end or the beginning, if I may be allowed to be my cryptic best," he said.

Government has been mulling the ban as part of its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which the country ratified in 2005. The treaty aims to reduce the demand for and consumption of tobacco, which is blamed for killing nearly six million people each year; more than five million of whom are users and ex-users, and more than 600,000 of whom are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. The focus this year is to have signatory countries adopt complete bans on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

But whether a ban on smoking in Jamaica's public places will be effective in decreasing the number of people who smoke and reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) related to smoking, is to be seen.

Consultant oncologist at the Hope Institute said as much to the Observer on Friday.

"I think if we look at some of the statistics that the minister was quoting from developed countries, that it's not something that's going to happen overnight; it's going to be a long-term thing, so with banning it today, we may not start to see the results in the reduction of disease and the mortality and so on, until 10, 15, 20 years' time.

She acknowledged that developed countries which have instituted similar bans, have seen a reduction in the NCDS related to tobacco use, such as cancer. However, she maintains that since the behavioural practices in developed countries vary from those of the developing world, the effect of a ban may be dissimilar.

She referenced data from the hospital which showed that farming and construction are the most frequnet occupations among those diagnosed with cancer.

"That's worrying, because a ban on smoking in public places is not going to affect them because they are out in the field," she said.

"But it has to be a first step. I think what it does is make people aware of the unpleasant thing that they are doing... we have to start somewhere, and by Government saying 'we're very serious and we're gonna try and enforce this thing', I think that, more than the actual ban itself, sends a message."

In his address Friday, Minister Ferguson referenced Northern Ireland as a success story.

"On March 29, 2004, the Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to implement a national 100 per cent smoke-free law. The comprehensive legislation included a ban on smoking in workplaces, including restaurants, pubs and bars. A recent study assessed the effect of this policy on deaths among individuals ages 35 years and older occurring from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2007.

"In the three years immediately following the smoking-ban implementation there was a 13 per cent reduction in deaths from all causes, a 26 per cent reduction in deaths from ischemic heart disease, a 32 per cent reduction in deaths from stroke, and a 38 per cent reduction in deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Reductions in exposure to second-hand smoke prevented almost 4,000 deaths.

"That evidence is far too compelling to ignore," Ferguson said.

The health minister added that the Government is committed to its pledge to reduce non-communicable diseases by 25 per cent by 2025

Tobacco marketing and disctribution company Carreras, meanwhile, said it is not opposed to a public place smoking ban.

"We are in full support of restrictions on public place smoking, which reflects a balanced position for smokers and non-smokers, and which limits non-smokers' involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco smoke," the company told the Observer by email.

"As is the case in other jurisdictions, even in those situations where smoking bans exist, entities by law, have the right to establish clearly delineated and properly ventilated areas in which smokers can be accommodated. We, therefore, strongly believe that private entities should be allowed by law to set up adequately ventilated reserved smoking areas in enclosed public places.

Carreras added that, while it is necessary for restrictions to be placed on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, it does not support a wholesale ban. Enditem