What is the tobacco issue in s...

What is the tobacco issue in schools? How can it be prevented and reduced?
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May 1/2018

Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority, in collaboration with the Addis Ababa Education Bureau, held a joint consultation with school principals on tobacco and student behavior in its work to make Addis Ababa free of tobacco smoke.

Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority Regulatory Sector Deputy Director General Ato Enga Ereketa urged school principals to strictly monitor and supervise the activities of tobacco and addictive activities and electronic cigarette practices that are disruptive to learning and teaching in schools, and to carry out prevention and awareness activities to prevent the creation of young people who are tied to addiction.

The authority has launched a campaign at the city level, "Let's expose the methods that are addictive to nicotine and tobacco!" In the campaign launched to publicly condemn tobacco based on the theme of World No Tobacco Day, school leaders and principals, and school communities at all levels have set the direction for the work they are doing by organizing a joint discussion and setting out the direction for the work they are doing.

The principals who attended the forum extensively discussed the various types of tobacco that are being seen in schools and the various strategies that students use and the monitoring status. They also explained that the problem is complex and deep-rooted.

Finally, it was pointed out in the directions of focus that there is a need to strengthen the coordination mechanism and educate parents and school communities about the complex health effects of tobacco, to create model schools that are free from tobacco smoke by eliminating disruptive activities in school environments, to be aware of the laws surrounding tobacco and to implement the law, and to work in coordination and cooperation with relevant parties and to do extensive work.