Over 5 thousand people dying in Malawi over smoking
About 5,400 people die every year in Malawi due to tobacco smoking, advocate Drug Fight Malawi has said.
Its Executive Director, Nelson Zakeyu, said of the figure, about 1,600 deaths are from passive smoking.
Zakeyu said apart from the loss of lives, tobacco-related illnesses cost Malawi over K200 billion annually in direct healthcare costs and lost productivity.
He said this today during a community awareness campaign at Mangadzi Village in the area of Senior Chief Chakhaza in Dowa District.
He said the organisation is working with government and other stakeholders to raise awareness on the dangers of smoking and reduce tobacco-related illnesses.
Senior Group Village Head Mangadzi has stressed the need for more awareness campaigns to save lives, especially among the youth.
Malawi ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), but local leaders and health advocates note that comprehensive national consumer laws are still awaiting full implementation.
