Shisha is one of the biggest problem presently confronting the Fight against Tobacco Control in The Gambia , despite the fact The Gambia has registered significant achievements in the Fight against Tobacco Control still people openly Smoke Shisha in the Bar and Restaurants around the Tourism Industry Area particularly the Bars and Restaurants within The Senegambia Area.
The Gambia has passed a National Tobacco Control Act but still enforcement is a problem a three month Nationwide sensitization on the new Tobacco Control Act has been completed by Raid – The Gambia and The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare despite all the efforts made by the anti – Tobacco campaigners and advocates there is still delay in the implementation and enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act .
This is a big challenge for the Country that the Bar and Restaurants owners are capitalizing on the situation to allow their customers Smoke Shisha openly and it is sad to note that in The Gambia it is mostly young boys and girls especially the youths even under 18years are those who are actively engage in smoking Shisha within some of the places in the Tourism Development Area. There is no controlled measure that has been put in place for the Bars and Restaurants to display in there premises that smoking is dangerous to their health.
Recently, I visited the Bars and Restaurants within the Greater Banjul Area to find out, regardless of the banned placed on Smoking in Public Places.
The people are still smoking in these premises , however some of the business operators who spoke to me stated that the ban on Shisha in their premises would seriously affect their businesses, indicating that it will make them lose their customers , noting that 90% of young people who comes to their premises smoke Shisha and some of the reasons given is that the government is imposing heavy tax on their businesses and if Shisha is banned what is the Guarantee that their business will continue to grow .
The Health officials from The Non Communicable Disease Unit of The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare noted that the arguments from the business operators are not strong once. They pointed out that the Law Enforcement Agency of the New Tobacco Control Act will soon be reinforced to the latter, noting that the health of the Population will never be compromise on the expense of few people.
They said Shisha is seriously affecting the health of young people who are actively smoking it.
Seyffoe Singhateh, Senior Program officer at the Non Communicable Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said recently Bar and Restaurant business operators were sensitized about the New National Tobacco Control Act, and they were informed about the Punishments attached to the offenders of the Act if found wanting, adding that once the act is implemented ,it will be applied to the later.
Binta Njie, a resident of Banjul, further stated that Shisha should be banned at Bars and Restaurants, noting that the reasons why some Gambians don’t visit Restaurants are that they are always been polluted by Shisha Smokers and is dangerous to the health of the People.
Tida Jagana, explained that Shisha if not banned would serve as a threat to the health of the population.
Author: Momodou Faal
