Observe ban on smoking in public

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Tuesday reminded the general public on the need to observe the ban on smoking in all public places.

This, the FDA said, was to ensure that non-smokers are protected from the adverse effects of tobacco smoke considering the overwhelming evidence of its harmful effects to the human body.

In a statement signed by FDA Chief Executive, Dr Stephen k. Opuni and copied to the GNA, said Tobacco smoke was known scientifically to contain over 7000 chemicals, seventy of which causes cancer and affects all parts of the body.

It said “those who inhale the smoke are exposed to all these chemicals and are at risk of the adverse health consequences of these chemicals”.

Consequently, part six of the Public Health Act 2012 was enacted to protect the public against the harmful effects of tobacco.

The statement said Section 58 of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851, states that, “A person shall not smoke tobacco or a tobacco product or hold a lighted tobacco product in an enclosed or indoor area of a work place, or any other public place except in a designated area”

The Act explained that the public place included but not limited to the following places: factories, offices, restaurants, pubs, places where children are cared for, health and educational institutions, cinemas, shopping malls and markets.

The rest are recreational areas (both open and closed), stadiums, public transport vehicle transport terminals and places of collective use.

The statement said the general public is to note that secondhand smokers are predisposed to all the harmful effects of tobacco use, which includes heart diseases, lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory tract infections, severe asthma attack in children and many other diseases, the statement said.

“All persons in charge of places where smoking is prohibited are required to post signs that clearly indicate that the establishment is a ‘no smoking’ area. All persons who do not comply with this legal requirement will attract sanctions including fines and/or imprisonment” it added.