- Leaked Memo Shows U.S. May Cut HIV Aid to Zambia to Secure Mineral Access
- FDA Draft Guidance on Flavored Vapes Aims to Protect Youth
- Zimbabwe Wraps Up Japan-Supported Kaizen Programme, Reporting Improved Hospital Patient Outcomes
- Africa CDC Trains Diverse Leaders to Close Africa’s Mental Health Treatment Gap
- Rare HIV ‘Breakthrough’ Cases Reported in Lenacapavir PrEP Trials Across Africa
South Africa’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill Faces Acid Test
Michael Gwarisa South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Health has flagged grey areas in the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, warning that the legislation continues to permit the smoking of combustible cigarettes and may therefore fail to protect millions of South Africans. The discussion took place on the same day Finance Minister
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Africa’s Nicotine Moment: What to Watch in 2026
By Joseph Magero As Africa moves into 2026, the continent is quietly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds for the future of tobacco harm reduction. With a fast-growing population, limited healthcare capacity, and millions of adult smokers, policy decisions taken in the next year will determine whether smoking declines rapidly or remains entrenched for
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E-cigarette users face up to $190 fines in Vietnam
People who use e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products in Vietnam will face fines ranging from VND3 million to VND5 million (US$114–190) and will be required to destroy the products, a government decree stipulates. Under Decree No. 371, which takes effect on Dec. 31, individuals who allow the use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products at
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Africa Cannot Afford Another Year of Delay: The Case for Embracing Safer Nicotine Alternatives
By Joseph Magero, Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) As another year ends, it’s important to reflect on Africa’s position in the global fight against smoking-related diseases. Unfortunately, the familiar pattern continues: while the rest of the world adopts modern harm reduction strategies, Africa remains significantly behind, stuck in outdated methods that don’t address current public
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Policy Capture at COP11: What It Signals for Global Health Governance
By Dr Vivian Manyeki, Public Health Specialist and Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocate In the busy corridors of the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, a heated exchange occurred. A young delegate, determined and armed with data, confronted a representative of a major global foundation.
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Philip Morris International takes ZYN to Formula 1 in Ferrari partnership
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Leading international consumer goods company, Philip Morris International (PMI), has announced that its leading nicotine pouch brand, ZYN, will feature on Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 car liveries at select races across upcoming seasons. This will be an expanded partnership between PMI and Scuderia Ferrari HP, as well as with Ferrari
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Do as I Say, Not What’s Best: The Perils of Philanthro-Colonialism at COP11
By Own Correspondent As the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) concluded last week, experts on the sidelines raised concerns about the misuse of Article 5.3, which has increasingly hindered engagement with diverse stakeholders. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) restrictive interpretation of this article has effectively
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Good COP 2.0 Pushes Back Against WHO’s Quiet War on Harm Reduction
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma The 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) recently took place in Geneva, Switzerland, and resembled the familiar closed-door meeting where science was neglected and the voices of consumers left out yet again. A lot of these experts, including some of those
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Sweden Shows the World That Tobacco Harm Reduction Works
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Sweden has become a global reference point for effective tobacco harm reduction, achieving some of the lowest smoking rates while many countries continue to struggle. Their success is largely attributed to a pragmatic approach that encourages smokers to switch from combustible cigarettes to significantly lower-risk alternatives such as snus and regulated nicotine
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Health Experts Warn WHO Against Full Tobacco Ban and Call for Balanced Regulation
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma For decades, global public health experts have agreed on one thing: banning a dangerous substance rarely eliminates its use. It often pushes the trade underground, where governments lose visibility and control. Regulation, however, gives policymakers room to monitor, manage and gradually reduce harm. This tension now sits at the center of a
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