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Cigarettes boxes should carry picture-based warnings – Health official
Graphic pictures of throat cancer and rotting teeth among other diseases related to tobacco smoking are strongly being advocated to be shown on cigarette boxes, in an effort to reduce the smoking epidemic.
Project Coordinator Darshanand Rampersaud
According to Darshanand Rampersaud, project coordinator at the Georgetown Chest Clinic, studies which were recently conducted have shown that 90 percent of society has welcomed the picture based warnings.
Rampersaud has been upping the ante against tobacco consumption as part of the efforts to raise awareness about the drug.
Health warnings on cigarette packages were introduced in the 1960s and is now found in many countries worldwide, but Rampersaud said the warnings are outdated
According to Rampersaud, picture based warnings help people to think twice about smoking, and make smokers think about quitting. He said that the warnings cater for the boarder society.
“It doesn’t just cater for the literate, and those who understand the Minister of Health warning which is presently affixed to the cigarette boxes….with the picture based warnings you merely have to look at the box and the message is understood,” Rampersaud said.
Rampersaud stated that they help those persons who have a problem with the Minister of Health’s warning.
“Some people say that the MOH’s warning is just his opinion, but the picture based warnings show real life experiences.”
The coordinator said that the public must be sensitised about the harsh effects of tobacco. He explained that tobacco is the only drug when used by the manufactures guarantees death.
Further he said that the drug doesn’t only cause cancer, but a number of other chronic non- communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
A sample of a cigarette box carrying the warning
Rampersaud said that recent data has shown that over 5.4 million people die yearly from tobacco related illnesses.
According to him, the Framework Convention on tobacco control has shown that picture based warning along with the instituting of smoke free areas have helped aid to drastically reduce the prevalence of tobacco use.
Rampersaud said that they are hoping that the Caricom heads at the next heads meeting arise at consensus which would see the picture based warnings being enacted into law.
He explained that the issue is on the agenda of the meeting. Once that is approved at that level, it would be automatic to be implemented by member states.
Obviously Rampersaud said that once it has been enacted into law they would give the manufactures a time line. “The enforcement would come after once the law is passed” Rampersaud said.
They had moved for the regional consensus since they were not able to reach a local consensus at the National Standard. Afterwards it was deem “outdated” thus it was not followed up on.
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