Some 30 journalists and communicators in Yaoundé engaged in discussions on tobacco control issues in Cameroon on Wednesday 22nd March, 2017. In a media dialogue organized by the Cameroonian Coalition for Tobacco Control (C3T) at the Jouvence 2000 Hotel, the journalists who came from the audiovisual, print and online media exchanged ideas on the dangers of tobacco consumption and the need to protect Cameroonians from these dangers.

Among other things, the journalists discussed the importance of adopting regulations on Graphic Health Warning labels (GHWs), as well as a comprehensive tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship ban in the country as ways of protecting citizens. During the discussions, the journalists agreed that the tobacco industry interferes with the current regulations in the country.

They saw the need to adopt a national tobacco control law that takes care not only of GHWs and a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, but also the affordability of tobacco products (through tax increases) and the protection of passive smokers (through the creation of smoke-free environments).

After receiving statistics on the mortality of tobacco products in Cameroon, the communication experts expressed satisfaction with the quality of the media dialogue. They left the Media Dialogue venue ready to give a stronger push to the tobacco control fight in Cameroon.