By Tenson Zobo
Drug Fight Malawi has expressed “deep concerns” and fear of an increase in tobacco use by children and youths in the country following the recent sponsorship agreement between our popular football club, the Big Bullets and the Nyasa Tobacco Manufacturing Company.
Executive Director for Drug for Fight Malawi Nelson Zakeyu said during press briefing on Wednesday in Lilongwe, that the consequences of such clearance permitting tobacco sponsorship of the football club promote unhealthy lifestyle.
He said: “Drug Fight Malawi considers the tobacco sponsorship of the Big Bullets team as a deliberate and well-orchestrated strategy of the Nyasa Tobacco Manufacturing Company to market its products and increase tobacco consumption among children. This is in sharp contradiction to the healthy lifestyle of sports as espoused by FIFA”,
Zakeyu condemned Nyasa Company for wrongly using sport to market its tobacco products, bemoaning tobacco sponsorship of football clubs is also in conflict with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 3 which ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Project Officer for Drug Fight Malawi Kulimbamtima Chiotcha in her sentiments emphasized that tobacco use is one of the greatest public health challenge facing the World today.
“The tobacco epidemic is spreading at an unprecedented rate, leading to nearly 6 million deaths globally each year ranging from lung cancer, heart diseases and other tobacco-related illnesses and causing the death of one in ten adults. By 2030, it is estimated that tobacco-related diseases will be the leading cause of death in Africa hence it shows the volume how the problem is”, she lamented.
“In Malawi, more than 26 per cent of men and 7 per cent of youth smoke tobacco. As an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases, tobacco use is aggravating these conditions in Malawi, where already one in three (33%) adults aged 25 and above is hypertensive:, Emphasized Chiotcha.
While acknowledging that tobacco is Malawi’s top forex earner, it is not in order to promote for the use of tobacco that would in turn see children using the product. The promotion of tobacco use will turn children into users and life smokers, hence dooming their future.
Drug Fight Malawi is a registered NGO working against use of; Tobacco, Marijuana, harmful alcohol consumption, and other drugs of abuse for the better life for all.
