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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Experts Criticize WHO for Ignoring Evidence on Safer Smoking Alternatives
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been ignoring emerging scientific evidence on tobacco harm reduction. Experts say the organisation continues to enforce restrictions that are not fit for purpose, while global smoking rates remain high. Tobacco harm reduction refers
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The Right to Know: Why Access to Tobacco Harm Reduction Information Is a Matter of Human Rights
By HealthTimes When forty-seven-year-old Idai Moyo from Harare finally managed to quit smoking after two decades, it wasn’t because she suddenly found the willpower that had eluded her for years. It was because she discovered something she hadn’t known existed — a smoke-free nicotine alternative that allowed her to move away from cigarettes gradually, without withdrawal
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Why Harm Reduction Matters More in Africa
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ACTA) defines Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) as a public health strategy aimed at lowering the health risks to individuals and society associated with combustible tobacco products. This approach is based on the understanding that most harm linked to tobacco use comes from the chemicals released and inhaled when tobacco
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WHO Clings to Outdated Dogma
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma When it came into effect in 2005, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was hailed as a landmark global health treaty. Two decades later, however, health experts say the treaty has largely failed to deliver on its promise to significantly reduce global smoking rates. The FCTC urged governments to
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PMI Strengthens Measures to Curb Youth Access to Smoke-Free Products
By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Philip Morris International (PMI) says it is taking concrete steps to ensure its smoke-free products remain out of reach for minors, reaffirming its commitment to youth access prevention as global concerns around youth vaping grow. Speaking during the 2025 Technovation Summit in Dubai, Tomoko Iida, PMI’s Director of Scientific Engagement for South and
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Nicotine Isn’t the Enemy: World Expert Corrects a Century of Misconception
By Michael Gwarisa For decades, misinformation and misconceptions about nicotine’s role in cancer and tobacco-related diseases have dominated public health discussions. These misconceptions are not limited to the general public; even among medical professionals, confusion persists. A Rutgers-led study found that about 80 percent of physicians surveyed believed nicotine directly causes cancer. Speaking during a
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Getting Tough On Vaping Drives People Into Smoking Combustible Tobacco
By Michael Gwarisa Despite the massive crackdown on smoking in the form of bans and taxes, coupled with well-coordinated misinformation around emerging Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) alternatives, World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that at least 8 million smokers continue to die from smoking-related diseases on an annual basis while one million non-smokers who are exposed
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CIMAS rolls out smoking cessation program to help those trying to quit smoking
By Michael Gwarisa IN a bid to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with smoking combustible cigarettes, CIMAS Medical Aid Society has rolled out a three month long smoking cessation program to allow smokers to gradually quit smoking. The program is covered under CIMAS Medical Aid drug and substance abuse rehabilitation package and will see smokers accessing
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Cigarette Manufactures Urged To Reduce Tobacco Harm
Health Reporter Experts have called for tobacco manufactures to develop safer solutions for people living in poor countries who constitute the majority of smokers. Speaking at the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum held virtually last week, the experts also implored governments to embark on evidence-based policy making in order to reduce the number of smokers worldwide.
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