Addressing the Medical Association of Jamaica's (MAJ) Symposium at the
Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, the minister reiterated that six
million people are dying annually from tobacco smoking and 600,000 from
passive smoking, just from being in the same space with someone who
smokes.
"My mandate as a minister of health is to ensure and protect the health
of the nation. Therefore, I ask for your support because when that
decision is taken, it's not going to be easy," he stated.
"Cigarette companies are very powerful but I believe that it still
remains the one industry that kills its most loyal and best customers
and therefore for us, we must do what we have to do," he stressed.
The Government is seeking to put into place a Tobacco Control Act that
will protect citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco smoking, by
prohibiting its use in public areas and workplaces.
Dr Ferguson noted that when the legislation comes into effect, Jamaica
will join countries in the Caribbean such as Barbados, Trinidad and
Tobago and Suriname that have already passed such a statute.
He stressed that his position on the matter "is not an anti-smoker
position; it is a pro-health position. Therefore we must recognize that
it is not a personal thing."
Statistics from the 2008 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey show that
by the age of 16 years, 19 per cent of smokers had initiated the habit
and 14.5 per cent smoke cigarettes, while 13.5 per cent admit to
marijuana use.
Figures provided by the Jamaica Cancer Society reveal that approximately
80,000 young people across the world become addicted to tobacco each
day and if trends continue, an estimated 250 million children and young
people will die as a result of tobacco smoking-related illnesses.
The anti-smoking legislation is in keeping with Jamaica's obligations
under the United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
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