The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), commemorated World No Tobacco Day in Walvis Bay, calling for stronger policies, greater public awareness and community action to protect children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction.
The national commemoration was held under the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.” The theme highlights the strategies used to make tobacco and nicotine products attractive, particularly to young people, including colourful packaging, appealing flavours, sleek product designs, digital marketing and misleading claims that emerging products are harmless or less dangerous.
Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Suzan Ndjaleka said World No Tobacco Day provided an important opportunity to raise awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of tobacco use and to strengthen Namibia’s response to emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
“The tobacco industry continues to portray smoking and nicotine use as fashionable, modern and harmless, while concealing the devastating consequences associated with addiction,” she said.
She urged communities to reject the manipulation used to attract new consumers, particularly children and adolescents, and reinforced the campaign message: “Don’t get trapped in nicotine and tobacco addiction.”
Speaking at the event, WHO Representative, Dr Richard Banda warned that nicotine addiction was not accidental but deliberately engineered through the design, packaging and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products.
“Traditional cigarettes remain harmful and addictive, but we are also seeing the growing appeal of electronic cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches and other emerging products,” he said. “These products are often presented as modern, fashionable or harmless. The reality is clear: all tobacco use is risky, and nicotine is harmful to developing brains.”
Data from the 2024 Namibia Global School-based Student Health Survey indicate concerning levels of tobacco and nicotine use among learners aged 13 to 17. Approximately 23% of students reported using electronic cigarettes, 18% used tobacco products and 9% smoked cigarettes. The use of electronic cigarettes was particularly high among boys, with nearly 30% reporting current use.
Dr Banda described the findings as a warning that the tobacco and nicotine industry was adapting its tactics to appeal to a younger generation.
“Young people are particularly vulnerable because the adolescent brain is still developing,” he said. “Exposure to nicotine during this stage can affect brain development, increase dependence and make quitting much harder later in life.”
He called for every school to become a tobacco- and nicotine-free environment and emphasized the importance of providing learners, teachers, parents and communities with accurate information about the risks of nicotine addiction and the tactics used to promote these products.
During the commemoration, the Ministry announced that it was advancing amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act, No. 1 of 2010, to address emerging and evolving tobacco and nicotine products. Wider national consultations with stakeholders and members of the public are expected to begin in July 2026.
The Ministry is also finalising national tobacco cessation guidelines to strengthen counselling, treatment and other support for people who wish to stop using tobacco. Social workers across the country continue to conduct community engagement and awareness activities, particularly among young people.
Hon. Ndjaleka stressed that tobacco control required a whole-of-society approach involving government, schools, families, health workers, civil society organizations, the media, community leaders and young people themselves.
“The fight against tobacco addiction cannot be won by government alone,” she said. “We must continue to educate our children, strengthen enforcement of tobacco-control measures, promote healthy lifestyles and ensure that future generations grow up free from the harms of nicotine addiction.”
WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Namibia in fulfilling its obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, strengthening the regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, expanding cessation support, and protecting young people from industry interference and deceptive marketing.
The commemoration concluded with a shared call to action: to expose the deception, protect young people, support those who want to quit and build a healthier, tobacco- and nicotine-free Namibia.
