In Uganda, about 1 percent of the total cost of tobacco-related illnesses are attributed to tobacco use and the direct cost of treating tobacco attributable illnesses is estimated to be 108.05 billion Uganda shillings (USD 41.56m).

These are some of the startling results of a study, “The Health Cost of Tobacco in Uganda” that was launched by Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Lands and Housing, at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Ministry of Health to commemorate World No Tobacco day 2017. The theme for this year is “Tobacco – a threat to development”.

According to the study, the total cost of tobacco use including the direct cost of treatment and the indirect costs of loss of income and productivity from death and disability in Uganda is UGX 328.82 billion (USD 126.48 million). The total health costs outweighs the market value of UGX 211.15 billion (USD 81.22m) of tobacco products or the assumed benefits of tobacco use in Uganda.

Dr. Baryomunsi who is acknowledged as the champion of tobacco control in Uganda because of the work he did to draft, present and defend the Tobacco Control bill in the Uganda Parliament commended the researchers saying “the study will feed information into efforts to ban Tobacco use in Uganda.”

Hon. Dr. Baryominsi added that previously, Uganda lacked data depicting  the gravity of Tobacco use in the country but with  this study  the country now has facts and figures to back not only the full implementation of the Tobacco Act 2015 but also to undertake  significant strides in advocacy for the total ban of tobacco products.

The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng noted that the study will help beef up tobacco control advocacy which has been lacking. “It’s important to fight tobacco because it is dangerous to human life and does not foster development and has no health benefits,” she added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uganda Dr. Abdoulie Jack delivered the WHO Regional Director’s message at the breakfast reporting that globally, tobacco kills more than 7.2 million people per year, with over 80% from low- or middle-income countries. In the African Region about 146 000 adults aged 30 years and above die every year from tobacco-related diseases.

According to the Regional Director, for countries to develop, it is critical that they integrate tobacco control in national policies, plans and Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) implementation frameworks.  “Countries should fully implement the WHO FCTC, including raising tobacco taxes to reduce demand for tobacco. The revenue generated for governments can be used to finance universal health coverage, health promotion as well as other development programmes”, she said.

In Uganda, the Tobacco Control Act 2015 arguably the most comprehensive in Africa, is now in full force. There is a wide range of offences, penalties and fines making random and careless smoking an offence in the country. While this is a welcome public health development, it however places responsibilities and obligations on the Ministry of Health and partners to educate the public about the act and to disseminate it widely.

In the African Region, the cost of healthcare from tobacco smoking is 3.5% of total health expenditure each year. It brings suffering, diseases and premature death and impoverishes families. It also imposes a heavy economic burden on national economies through increased healthcare costs and decreased productivity. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was domesticated in Uganda through the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act is one sure way to circumnavigate these challenges. Studies to expose facts and figures are yet another way to reinforce the efforts.

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For more information, please contact :

Mwebembezi Edmond, Public Information Officer, Tel. : +256 414 335569, Cell: +256 782 962674, Email: mwebembezie [at] who.int

Below:

01. L-R Dr. Jim Asiimwe, Dr. Abdoulie Jack, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Prof. William Bazeeyo and Dr, Sheila Ndyanabangyi launch the report on the Health cost of Tobacco use in Uganda

02. Officials speak to the media at the World No Tobacco Day 2017 commemoration