Fight against tobacco: Prevalence falls from 6% to 4% in Senegal

Tobacco consumption continues to decline in Senegal. The latest national survey on smoking, carried out by the National Tobacco Control Program (PNLT) in collaboration with the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), reveals that the prevalence rate has fallen from 6% to 4%.

These results were presented on Saturday in Kaolack during an information workshop intended for media professionals.
According to the coordinator of the PNLT, Dr Oumar Bâ, the decline is also observed among men, where the prevalence has fallen from 11% to 9%, a reduction of almost 25%. While welcoming this development, he warned against the progression of electronic cigarettes, increasingly used by adolescents.

The head of the PNLT also regretted the non-compliance with the ban on smoking in public places, a situation which still exposes nearly 1.2 million people to passive smoking. He pleaded for greater involvement of the Defense and Security Forces in the application of anti-tobacco legislation.

The survey also notes a decline in advertising for tobacco products, a development considered encouraging. Dr Bâ invited the media to continue their awareness-raising activities. He also announced that drugs intended for smoking cessation could be included in the list of essential drugs in order to improve their accessibility. Before Kaolack, the PNLT had already organized information sessions for the benefit of the FDS, managers of public places and regional health authorities.