Report on the Symposium for Tobacco Free Youth

INTRODUCTION:
As part of the effort of fighting against the smoking menace amongst the youth, especially the pupils, the Tobacco and Substance of Abuse Department of the Food & Drugs Board, Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Girl Guides organized a symposium as part of the World No Tobacco Day Celebration at the Ghana Girl Guides Association centre, Achimota. The theme “Tobacco Free Youth” which was chosen for the World No Tobacco Day celebrations was adopted as the theme for the symposium. 

The programme as part of FDB’s anti-tobacco sensitization programme for the youth was aimed at educating members of the Guide on the dangers of tobacco use and the need to quit or avoid the practice.

PARTICIPATION:
Present at the symposium were the following people and Schools:
• Mrs. Akua Amartey-Resource person, Head TSAD, FDB
• Mr. William Nii Kotey-Resource person, Ghana Education Service
• Miss. Evado Avotri -Assistant Regulatory Officer, TSAD, FDB
• Baffour-Gyimah Yaw-National Service Personnel, FDB
• Christopher Atta-Nyarko-National Service Personel, FDB
• Nestle Ghana Limited
• The Media
• Youth and Youth Leaders
• Adult Leaders
• Rev. John Teye Memorial School
• Ave Maria International School.
• St. Martin de Porres International School
• Achimota School
• University Primary School - Legon
• St. Anthony Preparatory School
• St. Benedicte Preparatory School
• Monalisa International School
• Calvary Methodist School
• Friends of Guides

OPENING
The symposium started at exactly 9:45 am with an opening prayer by Mrs. Vida Appiah Twumasi-The District Commissioner of the association, after which proceeded the introduction of Resource personnel, Chairman and the Guest for the occasion by Miss Alice Boateng-The Public Relation Officer.
The Chairperson, Mrs. Patience Yawa Aniagyei- The Chief Commissioner responded to the introduction by giving a brief opening remarks and a key note address by Miss. Perpetual Osei Bonsu- The Legal Adviser.

PRESENTATION BY SPEAKERS
The presentation was done in four sessions which were interspaced with musical interludes.
• First Session:

Three key questions were asked to highlight the importance of the theme. These included
o What Guides understood by “Tobacco Free Youth”
o Whether it was possible to have a tobacco free youth
o Whose responsibility it is to ensure that youths are tobacco free.
There were also a series of other questions to test the knowledge of guides and pupils on smoking and its implication. Participants who answered questions correctly were rewarded with gifts such as emblems, crests bearing anti-tobacco messages and warnings and posters of the smoker’s body
This session was however handled by Mrs. Amartey.

• Second Session:
A presentation delivered by the main speaker, Mrs. Akua Amartey. She talked on both Health and socio-economic implications of smoking. She made the participants aware that health wise, smoking affects almost every part of the body from the hair to the toe using the Smoker’s Body poster as an illustration. It was also stressed that not only the smoker is at risk but also the passive smoker is also at equal risk as a result of inhalation of the smoke produced from both side stream and mainstream smoke. She elaborated on some of the health effects of smoking which includes: lung, skin, throat and stomach cancers, emphysema and hair loss, infertility in both men and women.
Mrs. Amartey highlighted on the highly addictive nature of tobacco due to the presence of the substance, nicotine.
To this effect all and sundry were cautioned not to smoke and not hesitate in asking those who smoke around them to be excused.

The socio-economic effects of tobacco use were also highlighted. Participants were made to appreciate that; finances spent on tobacco could be used for other more important necessities like buying of books, paying of school fees and buying of clothing. In effect smoking can cause poverty.
Community leaders like the Pastors, Imams, the Honorable people of the country and other stakeholders including parents were also called upon to help in the fight of smoking amongst the youths through preaching and talking much on the negatives effect of tobacco use and also encouraging them to quit.
Mrs. Amartey ended her presentation with an admonition from the Bible in I Corinthians 6:19-20.

• Third Session:
The third session commenced after a Milo break sponsored and served by Nestle Ghana Limited to all participants. This was followed by a question time.
Some of the questions were about:
• Why tobacco is allowed, though it is harmful 

• If there were any benefit in smoking at all 

• If people around are affected by smoke from a smoker 

• Whether blood transfusion could also lead to addiction if the donor is addicted 

• What to do when friend are gathered and another bumps into the group with a lighted cigarette 

• How one gets cancer after exhaling the smoke he /she has inhaled 

• Whether the chemicals produced by smoking are put in the cigarette 

• Whether people sometimes smoke for money

• Fourth Session:
Answers were given to the above questions by Mrs. Amartey with assistance from Mr. William Nii Kotei and Miss. Evado Avotri.

SUBMISSIONS FROM OTHER RESOURCE PERSONS:
In line with the addictive nature of nicotine, Miss. Evado Avotri told the children that, they are more vulnerable to nicotine addiction due to their age. She buttressed her statement by making reference to a research carried out in the US. With regards to the research she asked them not to even start since they might not know the number of sticks that will make them addicted to smoking.

By way of advice, Mr. Christopher Atta-Nyarko cautioned the children to always be careful with the type of friends they move with since some bad friends can introduce them to tobacco use. The Guides were again warned against drinking since they can be influenced by alcohol as well into smoking and other forms of tobacco use.

Master Baffour also added that not only by smoking is one at risk but by merely lighting a cigarette/tobacco and it starts producing smoke, the environment becomes contaminated and polluted, hence anyone who inhale or breathe in such environment might be at risk and the Best way for the pupils is to flee from any use of tobacco.

OBSERVATIONS:
The symposium was very participatory. The Guides showed a lot of interest in the programme by asking intelligent questions and giving appropriate answers to questions thrown them.
The pupils were very curious and depicted their readiness to learn and to clear up their ambiguities on several smoking issues.
A slogan launched by Mrs. Vida and accepted by all the participants responded to, was:
“Don’t smoke!” With a response “Don’t start!” and
“Tobacco free youth!” with a “yeah!” response
The presentation was very interactive as the participants were encouraged to air out their views on tobacco use.
The rewards also proved to be a very good incentive for active participation.
In totality the symposium generated a great sense of togetherness, coupled with education and fun.

RECOMMENDATION:
• In view of the high patronage and interest exhibited by the participants the Board should organise more anti-tobacco educational programmes to achieve the collective objective of tobacco free youths.
• It is recommended that as part of the TSAD activities in ensuring tobacco free youth, The Board should organise such sensitisation programmes in both junior and senior high schools across the length and breadth of the nation to ensure a wider coverage of the tobacco free youth campaigns.

• Even though using pictures/ posters helped to convey the message of Tobacco Free Youth to the youth, it is recommended that educational video clips and life testimonies from victims of tobacco use should be included in such programmes for a better appreciation of the harm caused.
• The Board should invest in development of paraphernalia branded with tobacco warning messages that could be made available to participants in subsequent programmes to facilitate effective information delivery.


CONCLUSION:
The symposium was well organized, presented and participated. The children promised to share the knowledge gained with their schools and other colleagues.