What is the MoH doing about tobacco?

Friday, September 16, 2011

Dear Editor,

The Smokefree Action Coalition wishes to join the writer in the September 15 Observer in expressing its concern about Jamaica's position on tobacco. Cigarette advertisements abound in Jamaica. Is that okay?

I suggest that the quandary that the government finds itself in be solved now. It is this: "The government faces a dilemma because it is a signatory to the FCTC and should be guided by the expressed intent of the declaration. The convention requires governments to pass legislation to control tobacco consumption and discourage the production of tobacco as an agricultural crop. However, as it stands today in Jamaica, there is no government action to discourage tobacco cultivation although other legislation is being developed."

I have called the Ministry of Health several times and have never received a real response . No funding is available for us for many years now, therefore we do as we can afford. Note the impotent "smokefree square in Spanish Town".

I did call the cigarette company to ask for assistance with a project. I was asked: "You are the lady who wrote about tobacco?" What I should have been asked is: "Are you the lady trying to save lives?"

Rosemarie Greene

The Smokefree Action Coalition

Spanish Town, St Catherine

spntwncitizensagv@cwjamaica.com