Health Ministry to control tobacco use

The Health Ministry is reiterating the government’s commitment to control the use of tobacco and its bi-products.



Policy Analyst in the ministry Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller said although the plans to enact legislation are not moving, as speedily as hoped, the law will be brought to parliament soon.



This will be done in a bid to reduce the influence of the tobacco industry on Jamaicans, especially young people,she added.



The anti-tobacco legislation will reflect provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC.



An FCTC workshop is now on in New Kingston and is scheduled to end tomorrow.



Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forester also shared that recent figures have shown that more persons in the Caribbean are dying from both direct usage of tobacco as well as the second hand effects of its use.



More young people are also smoking and that there is an increase of smoking among young girls,she added.