By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Health for All Coalition Sierra Leone (HFAC-SL), in collaboration with partners and supporters from the Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), has embarked on the popularization of the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act 2022 with the view of creating greater citizens awareness.

They are working on creating understanding among people on the contents of the Act.

The events was climaxed, on Monday 16th December 2024 at the Civil Service Training College, State House Compound in Freetown.

In his statement, the Executive Director of HFAC-SL, Charles Mambu said the Act provides for the control and regulation of the production, manufacturing, Importation, packaging, Labelling, intaking and advertising.

“The act directs that no person shall smoke in public places, offices and workplaces, around  court buildings and factories, ” he said.

Mambu noted that HFAC-SL and partners including the Africa Tobacco control alliance will continue to advocate for the council establishment, and for support to the council to make it achieve its goals and mandates. He said tobacco and nicotine are dangerous to people’s health and to the environment and also other developments make after war country Sierra Leone.

Musa Kamara, Research officer, Office of National Security (ONS) said the benefit of the Act now depends on its full implementation, including enforcement of regulations and rules contained in the Act. Adding that the HFAC-SL nationwide citizen’s engagement on Tobacco and Nicotine Act.

2022, so far, haa seen a number of organized sessions in the following districts; Kenema, Bo, Kambia, Tonklili, Western Area, Western Rural Area etc.

Hawa Conteh, a market woman at Lumley Street in Freetown, said traders and fisherman normally smoke Tobacco in public especially in market places within the Central Business District CBD in the capital of Freetown. She was calling on government, civil society’s orgs and the media to focus on raising a better awareness campaign in the future, and also for a sustainable fight against public smoking with utmost seriousness.