AFRIQUE_90% of Africans are not protected by legal provisions in the fight against smoking

While Africa is experiencing an increase in smoking more than that of other developing regions, about 90 percent of Africans still have no real protection against passive smoking. It's finding a new report released today during a regional conference on cancer.Cependant this report, Global Voices: Rebutting the Tobacco Industry, Winning Smokefree Air (global voice: to refute propaganda the tobacco industry to fight smoke-free air) indicates that hope is possible. Several African countries struggling against the aggressive efforts of the tobacco industry to stop public health interventions to implement legal provisions in the fight against smoking, which will provide protection to more than 100 million additional people compared to 2007 levels. The report was published by the Global Partnership for a Smoke-Free World, Global Smokefree Partnership, which includes many partners.
"For the first time in history, we have tools for preventing a pandemic," said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. "Recent data show that, if current trends continue, more than half of the Africa region will double its consumption of tobacco over the next twelve years. Providing smoke-free public places is an example of a response to low cost and extremely effective, which must be implemented now to protect health. "

During the past year, Kenya and Niger have implemented national policies to fight against smoking. For its part, South Africa, where legislation in the fight against tobacco use existed since March 2007, continues to play an important role in the region, demonstrating that laws in the fight against smoking may be implemented in Africa. In a first for the region, Mauritius has recently passed a law which is not far from meeting the standards Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, and is one of measures against smoking in the most vigorous world.

However, the report says, obstacles to implementation remain in many countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Uganda, particularly in the identification of resources for implementation, and l opposition of the tobacco laws in the fight against smoking. In Abuja, Nigeria, 55 percent of students in schools do not know that passive smoking was hazardous to health, and barely 1 percent of the population of Nigeria is protected by strong legal provisions in the fight against smoking .

The report highlights the tactics of the tobacco industry to stop the establishment of a statutory scheme for the fight against smoking, and to convince African governments to the economic importance of tobacco and the fact that increasing taxes on cigarettes and put in place legislation banning smoking will lead to loss of revenue and employment. In Kenya, for example, the tobacco industry has initiated legal action against the passage in Parliament of a strict law in the fight against smoking. And in Zambia, the company British American Tobacco has contributed to empty their content of proposed anti-smoking.

However, many findings in recent years show that in reality these tax losses are not realized. According to the report, the law in the fight against smoking Mauritius will have no impact on tourism revenues, which account for nearly one quarter of GDP. In South Africa, the VAT receipts show that the laws against smoking had no significant impact on restaurant receipts and could even have a positive effect. The tax increase in South Africa was followed by an increase in revenue. And in countries where tax revenues are scarce, the tax increase may be beneficial for social services, education and health care.

In addition to a statutory scheme for the fight against smoking, economic interventions, such as high taxation of cigarettes, can significantly help reduce effectively and efficiently use in Africa. Doubling the price of cigarettes by increasing taxes can reduce consumption by 60 percent. This is true in many African countries. In South Africa, for example, tobacco consumption has fallen by one third since 1993, with implementation of large increases in cigarette taxes.

In 2010, smoking costs the lives of 6 million people worldwide, of which 72 percent live in countries with low income and middle-income. If current trends continue, it will kill 7 million people per year in 2020 and over 8 million per year in 2030.

About 1 billion people in 45 countries around the world now benefit from legal protection against the health hazards of passive smoking in the workplace or in public places. Despite rapid progress, more than 85 percent of world population, including those of many low-income, middle income, still no real protection against passive smoking.

The report of the Global Partnership for a Smoke-Free World was launched at a media summit hosted by the American Cancer Society, which preceded the conference Cancer in Africa AORTIC which begins November 12 in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

To promote the health of the population in Togo: AFRICA LOVE in action

From October 19 to 05 November instant, the International Association of Physicians for the Promotion of Education and Health in Africa (LOVE-AFRICA), Section Togo, has a large output of land in the Kara region. Approximately 836 patients have been operated in the free cities of Bassar and Kara. Thus, 385 patients treated at the hospital Bassar and 451 beneficiaries supported the CHR Kara, have seen their suffering alleviated. Of these, 236 people have been made in ophthalmology (cataracts in 167), 578 general surgery (including 44 hernias, 38 lipomas, 32 goiters and 5 cesarean sections) and 22 in stomatology.

This is a new phase of free health campaigns initiated since 2006 by doctors, pharmacists, allied with the main objectives of providing primary health care to the poor, especially rural. This transaction follows the recent campaign of consultations took place in this region from 31 August to 19 September. In terms of balance, LOVE AFRICA Section Togo has already brought its various services to more than 100 000 patients in 128 locations across the country. In health interventions of the Association are oriented campaigns of medical care in ophthalmology, ear nose and throat, dentistry, dermatology, gynecology, cardiology, internal medicine and general medicine and surgery without forgetting the fight against HIV / AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The purpose and objectives LOVE AFRICA have won the support of the Togolese authorities mainly that of the President of the Republic, Essozinam Faure Gnassingbe has never ceased to bring his personal financial and moral support to the Association. "We never lacked the moral and financial support from the government that accompanies us as NGOs. The President of the Republic of Togo, His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe Essozimna has always given his unwavering support through our available financial resources in all our actions. As the beneficiary populations, they show him their gratitude power its continued support in the actions of our association I would like to pay tribute, "said Dr. Serge Michel Kodoma, founding president of the association.

In fact, thanks to the support of the Head of State, LOVE AFRICA-Togo has already conducted several activities in the medical field in several regions of Togo, among others, support free of 3343 patients in June 2007 in the region Savannah, support free of 8225 patients in May 2007 in the region of Kara, free pick-up approximately 11,000 patients in August and September 2007 in the Plateaux region, the management of 10,037 patients free in the central region during February 2008, a national campaign to support medical-surgical fair started out since November 2008 in the regions Maritime and Plateaux. During the last campaign of care that was held from August 31 to September 20 in some localities in northern, more than 15,700 patients were treated free in general medicine, ophthalmology, Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ENT) surgery General and gynecology. A total of 81 patients were operated.

By supporting this project, the President of the Republic has shown its willingness to establish a policy of population development at the base. This is evidence that health is at the heart of its concerns. Through LOVE AFRICA, the Head of State and his obvious attention he continues to give the whole population, mainly rural and impoverished. Moving the State Minister, Minister of Health with the medical team to Togo AFRICA-LOVE just materialize the government's support to the activities of the Association.

The Power Camp

Some national and regional networks, rather than promoting a specific curriculum, seek affiliates that embrace their philosophy of programming for girls. The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) promotes its philosophy of physical activity and self-esteem for girls through In
Motion workshops across the country. The organization is now taking this philosophy into nine communities working exclusively with Aboriginal girls in partnership with the Aboriginal Sports Circle. The Power Camp National/Filles d’action network also has a defined philosophy based on its understanding of best practices in gender-based girl-specific programming, and has gathered up and linked a number of interesting community based “boutique” programs and individual women committed to such programming under their network umbrella.

Curriculum and program philosophies

Rather than all being developed from scratch, there appears to be some take-up of existing curricula that has been designed especially for, or easily adapted to, gender- based girl-specific programs. Examples include TAKE IT EASY!, a self-esteem curriculum, Girls Inc. that licenses the use of eight research-based programs for girls, the YWCA’s Girls Clubs, and Just for Girls, a BC-based program to “help girls safely navigate the rocky road through adolescence and avoid the pitfalls such as eating disorders”. In general, however, not all programmers are aware of the various curricula that are available. A short list of curriculum resources currently available is included in the appendices.

Girls in science

It is also exciting to see that young women have initiated several programs and groups for girls and young women. Justice for Girls is an advocacy and internship program in Vancouver for girls under age 19 living in poverty that was set up by two young women, one with experience living on the street, the other a street worker. The Canadian Association for Girls in Science, for girls ages seven to 16, was created by a nine-year-old girl out of her passion for science and concern that girls were turning off of science at a very young age. Another girls’ empowerment program, Ophelia’s Voice, was recently developed by a 13-year-old girl in Calgary who has promoted it through the web-based social action youth forum, Taking IT Global, as well as through local community-based organizations.

Responsive program development

Much of the girls’ programming appears to be developed by staff at agencies and organizations, sometimes in response to a research-based need (i.e. to increase girls activity levels) where such research exists, or an expressed desire of girls who want to participate. Some have designed creative participatory research approaches to engage
girls in the identification of their program needs and possibilities as well as gaps. The Young Women Work research project in inner city Winnipeg and the Girls Decide project in Newfoundland and Labrador are two such examples. The National YWCA has recently set up a young women’s committee to inform their programming and work with girls and young women.

The Selfish coveting

Selfish coveting of the possessions of others, though never carried out into active cheating in the present, makes one a thief in a later earth-life, while hatred and revenge secretly cherished are the seeds from which the murderer springs. So again, unselfish loving yields as harvest the philanthropist and the saint; and every thought of compassion helps to build the tender and pitiful nature which belongs to one who is a friend to all creatures. Sage Vasishtha asks Rama to do Purushartha, or show the prowess of self-exertion. Do not yield to fatalism. It will induce inertia and laziness. Recognize the Great Powers of Thought. Exert. By right thinking make for yourself a great destiny. Prarabdha is Purushartha of last birth. You sow an action and reap a habit; a habit sown results in character. You sow a character and reap a destiny. Man is the master of his own destiny. You yourself make, by the power of your thought, your destiny. You can undo it if you like. All faculties, energies and powers are latent in you. Unfold them, and become free and great.