BBC Africa Coverage of Tobacco Harm Reduction: Safer Alternatives for Consumers & Farmers

Fantastic and balanced discussion from Maya Hayakawa on BBC News of how smoking rates in Africa are rising in defiance of global decreasing trends. What role can THR play in providing a solution?

“We lack progressive policymaking [in Africa]. The ‘quit or die’ approach is not working. We need to look at other options. (…) Nicotine is not the enemy; it does not cause cancer. Policymakers need to look at other products [safer nicotine alternatives] that can help smokers to quit smoking. As well as helping the farmers to diversify their crops in a way that is beneficial to them.” – Joseph Magero, Chairman of Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA).

Timestamps for video:

00:01 Smoking rates globally are in decline

00:15 How tobacco farmers are diversifying

01:10 Safer alternatives to smoking exist

02:24 Interview with Joseph Magero, Chairman of CASA