Letter to Editor re: Smoke Free Public Places

Uganda's Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has prepared draft regulations to control smoking in public places. While the effort has generally received a lot of support with one poll showing 93% of the public in favour, it looks as if BAT is striking back. A recent article in one of Uganda's leading daily newspapers takes a negative stance on the legisation. The newspaper has a reputation of being very pro-tobacco. Please write a letter to the editor to set the record straight! Click here to read the article

* Banning smoking in public places is the responsible thing to do and Uganda is not alone in doing it (provide example)
* READ ARTICLE & address specific misinformation in it, e.g. smokefree public places do not ban smoking altogether; smoking sections in bars and restaurants do not protect customers and workers from carcinogenic tobacco smoke pollution, etc
* According to the Uganda GYTS results, 66.9% of the youth in Arua District and 47.4% in Kampala District are exposed to secondhand smoke. 65.4% of the youth support a ban on smoking in public places.
* According to a survey done by TEAN 93% of the presons surveyed supported a ban on smoking in public places;
* President Museveni said, on the occasion of Uganda's 41st Independence anniversary, that 1/2 of the Ministry of Health budget (Ug. Shs. 300 billion) goes to treatment of preventable diseases;
* In his Speech on World Health day on 7th April 2002 the Minister for Health, Hon. Brig Jim Muhwezi noted that between 1999-2001 patients for stroke and cardiovascular disease doubled while the cases of non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, cancers) increased by 12,000