Global progress in the fight to end smoking has stalled. Despite decades of tobacco control efforts, smoking rates remain stubbornly high in many parts of the world.
While some countries have made significant strides in reducing smoking numbers through progressive tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies, many low- and middle-income nations, especially in Africa, are not embracing these life-saving approaches. As a result, their smoking rates are unnecessarily elevated, and the toll of tobacco-related diseases continues to rise.
In Kenya, nearly 20 percent of adult men smoke, despite the well-known health risks involved. In 2019, tobacco-related illnesses claimed the lives of 12,000 Kenyans.
However, my recent research with fellow tobacco harm reduction experts shows that, by adopting safer nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes and oral pouches, we could dramatically reduce that tragic toll.
Our report, “Saving 600,000 Lives in Nigeria and Kenya”, demonstrates that progressive THR strategies could reduce tobacco-related deaths by more than half and save 184,000 lives in Kenya alone in just four decades.
Evidence from wealthier countries, where THR strategies have been implemented successfully, speaks for itself.
Nations such as the UK, Sweden and Japan have seen a dramatic reduction in smoking rates, driven in large part by the widespread use of alternative nicotine products.
Statistics just released by Sweden’s public health agency show the number of native-born adults now smoking has fallen to 4.5 percent, well below the globally recognised benchmark for smoke-free status.
In such countries, millions of smokers are switching to vaping or nicotine pouches, which are far less harmful than traditional combustible cigarettes. As a result, smoking-related diseases are in decline, and public health outcomes have vastly improved.
THR has been embraced by health experts and lawmakers, who have seen firsthand how these products are helping to eradicate smoking. For instance, the UK’s National Health Service is giving free e-cigarettes to adult smokers in a ‘swap to stop’ scheme.
But in Kenya, tobacco control policies have – until now – relied heavily on traditional measures such as raising taxes or banning advertising. While these policies can have a significant impact, they are failing to achieve their objectives.
The good news is that Kenya now has a unique opportunity to reset its approach and thereby set a lead to save hundreds of thousands of lives in the region.
Kenya’s new tobacco control bill, currently before the National Assembly’s Health Committee, could be the catalyst for much-needed change. This bill offers an opportunity to not only strengthen existing tobacco control measures but to also integrate safer nicotine alternatives into the country’s strategy to reduce smoking rates and save lives.
One of the key barriers to adopting THR in Africa is the lack of awareness and understanding of these alternatives among policymakers and public health professionals.
The public health community is not yet fully trained on the potential of these alternatives. A concerted effort is needed to educate health professionals, policymakers and the public about the science behind THR, its safety and its effectiveness in helping smokers quit.
In our report, we urge African governments to expand their tobacco control strategies to include alternative nicotine products and to prioritise training for health professionals on the benefits of these tools.
The opportunity to save lives is clear. If Kenyan policymakers act now and integrate THR products into their tobacco control frameworks, they can reduce tobacco-related harm significantly and set a powerful example for other nations in Africa.
But to make this happen, our lawmakers must break free from outdated thinking and invest in policies that reflect the latest evidence on what works.
— The writer is Chairman of the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA)
