RYAN BACHOO
The Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (TTMA) says that only by combining public health education campaigns with strong policy decisions and law enforcement of the existing Act, that the harmful effects of smoking and vaping in T&T can be stopped.
The association released a two-page statement on World No Tobacco Day being marked on Wednesday May 31.
Citing several international reports including one from the University of North Carolina which says even though e-cigarettes contain less toxins than regular tobacco cigarettes, studies have proven significant health risk to users.
A statement read, "The T&TMA echoes the sentiments of these reports and the evidence therein and calls for the policymakers to provide nationwide public education on the health risks associated with vaping, advertisement and marketing of the e-cigarettes and its related products and use of e-cigarettes in public spaces."
The body says it endorses the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) recommendations for local tobacco control policies to “regulate the contents of tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) and prohibit the sale of flavoured tobacco products.”
The TTMA stated, "We further suggest measures to reduce the use of e-cigarettes by the younger population by banning the importation and sale of tobacco, flavoured tobacco products, e-cigarettes and candies, snacks, toys, etc. that resemble tobacco products as provided for in Article 16 of the Tobacco Control Act."
Additionally, the association has suggested marketing review procedures while restricting e-cigarette marketing to adults only, curbing internet/social media sales of all tobacco products and setting taxes on e-cigarettes at a level high enough to strongly discourage use.