By Awa Dk Conteh
Smoking tobacco through a water pipe, also referred to as Shisha, is prevalent in most countries and has gained popularity worldwide, especially among youth. The increasing global trend of shisha use is mainly by misleading information about it being safe.
The shisha smoke has potentially harmful chemicals, including several human carcinogens and other toxic products. There are recognized adverse effects on passive smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. It is a potential risk factor for several cancers. A session of shisha smoking for 40 minutes is equivalent to smoking 100 or more cigarettes.
Shisha use in The Gambia is increasing, particularly among young people, with studies showing a significant portion of youth have tried it, and a higher incidence among girls compared to boys.
According to Africa Research Connect, Studies showed a higher prevalence of shisha use among girls, challenging typical trends and raising questions about cultural acceptance.
Mr. Omar Badjie is the Programme Manager for Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) prevention and control and National Focal Person for Tobacco Control at the Ministry of Health. In this interview, he explained that Shisha originated from Asia and that most of the Asian countries use it because of the tobacco industry’s interference. “They use it globally and now it’s very proliferating in the African countries, especially in the least developed countries like The Gambia.” Badjie added.
He lamented that Shisha smokers inhale large quantities of harmful particles and are at risk of the same diseases as cigarette smokers, including a variety of cancers. A single session of an hour of smoking Shisha is equivalent to smoking 100 sticks of cigarette and a single stick of cigarette contains 7000 different chemicals” he explained.
Mr Badjie observed that it is becoming rampant among the youth and this he said is worrying, “because they think that Shisha is not a tobacco product and that it is harmless compared to cigarette. On the contrary, Shisha is far more dangerous than cigarette”.
He added that this is a worrying situation as it is contributing to the increase in the non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension cancers.
“NCDs are very costly and they are lifelong disease and there is no treatment for those diseases and once you have them there is no treatment for it.” the Programme Manager further warned.
He pointed out that Shisha use is not banned in The Gambia but its public use is forbidden, adding that the only tobacco product that is banned is the electronic cigarette device. However, he highlighted that different measures have been taken to control the use of toccaco and its related products sighting the Tobacco Control Act and regulations governing the use of Tobacco in the country.
Badjie noted the desirability to develop advanced techniques for surveillance, intervention, and regulatory/policy frameworks specific to the production and use of water pipe tobacco.
He concluded affirming the Health Ministry’s commitment to continue to sensitise the public on the harmfulness of tobacco use, noting that fighting against Tobacco use is multi-sectoral and requires collective efforts of all Gambians.
