By Michael Foli Jackidy
Dear Sir/Madam, On May 30th, the Ghana News Agency reported that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) joined forces with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and additional collaborators to host a health screening event along with a tobacco awareness initiative at the Ho Market within the Volta Region.
This event is part of the initiatives celebrating this year’s World No Tobacco Week.
The “Gleaming Goods, Sinister Motives: Revealing the Allure” initiative aims to expose the concealed risks associated with tobacco items frequently marketed through appealing tastes and designs.
Dr. Olivia Boateng, who leads the Tobacco and Substance of Abuse Directorate at the FDA, stated that the initiative was designed to increase public understanding of the health hazards linked to tobacco and nicotine products. Additionally, it provided fundamental health checks for community members.
She highlighted that the Volta Region was chosen for the national celebration because of its crucial importance, particularly regarding the issue of illicit trade via unauthorized pathways.
Dr. Boateng observed that Ghana has achieved significant advancements in decreasing tobacco consumption.
“Tobacco use has dropped from approximately 9 percent in earlier years to 4 percent now, due to the implementation of public smoking restrictions and other regulatory actions,” she stated.
She mentioned that current regulations ban smoking in communal areas, as well as tobacco advertising, promotional activities, and sponsorship deals.
Items introduced into the Ghanaian marketplace require rigorous quality assurance measures, encompassing lab tests as well as the addition of explicit health alerts.
Even with these initiatives, Dr. Boateng voiced worry over the increasing prevalence of novel tobacco items like electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) and hookahs.
She cautioned that these options are not actually safer and include hazardous components capable of impacting all bodily systems.
“There isn’t a single safe way to use tobacco, whether it involves smoking, inhaling, chewing, or using gums or vapes,” she emphasized.
These items may cause cancer, heart conditions, fertility issues, and even erectile dysfunction.
She likewise emphasized the continuous research initiatives designed to shape upcoming tobacco control measures, which may encompass possible restrictions on particular items.
Enforcing regulations remains difficult because of permeable borders; however, the FDA keeps monitoring the market and cracking down on unapproved or illegal goods.
“People found flouting our regulations face legal action, including imprisonment, especially those involved in the sale of unregistered products like tramadol,” she added.
Dr. Boateng advised parents to remain knowledgeable and engaged with their children’s activities, particularly online, in order to mitigate the impact of deceptive tobacco advertising.
Dr. Ruby Biaku, who represents the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and serves on its Public Health Committee, stated that their involvement in the event reflects their dedication to fighting the increase in non-communicable conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
She pointed out that numerous individuals only realize their health condition when issues develop, highlighting the importance of timely screenings and educational efforts.
“As pharmacists, we deal with medicines every day. Sadly, we notice an increasing issue regarding the improper use of drugs meant for severe illnesses,” stated Dr. Biaku.
This collaboration with the FDA enables us to enhance public education and improve the management of these medications.
She recommended that people steer clear of substance misuse and get routine medical examinations to identify and address health problems promptly.
Mr. Akurugu Gordon, who serves as the Volta Region Head of the FDA, highlighted that the region’s many unauthorized pathways render it a high-risk zone for the introduction of non-registered goods.
He emphasized that importing medicines via inland borders is not allowed and stated that the FDA is stepping up monitoring and enforcement efforts to prevent illegal activities.
“Before, smugglers took advantage of the lack of FDA officials during late hours, but currently, our team is stationed here 24/7,” he stated.
This round-the-clock initiative has greatly enhanced our capacity to detect unauthorized items.
The health examination covered checks for high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, as well as various other non-infectious ailments.
Several attendees at the market who gained from the screenings showed appreciation towards the FDA, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Emmanuel Med Hospital, and other collaborators for their assistance and services provided.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah / Benjamin Mensa
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
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