Windhoek: The Ministry of Health and Social Services on Thursday held a public consultation in Nkurenkuru on amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act, 2010 (Act No. 1 of 2010), with community leaders calling for stronger protections for young people from new tobacco and nicotine products.

According to Namibia Press Agency, National Programme Coordinator for Substance Abuse Prevention, Drug Control and Rehabilitation, Iyaloo Theofelus, said treatment centres are already seeing the impact of new products on children. 'Our centres have been inundated with quite a number of cases of children that come in for treatment services, and many of these treatments are associated with the new emerging tobacco and nicotine products,' she said.

She explained that the amendments aim to bring e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and flavoured vaping devices under strict control. 'These products are increasingly available and attractive to young people. they are made in the lab, made more appealing, more enticing and more attractive - and who are the victims? Our young people,' she said.

Theofelus said the law will broaden advertising and promotion bans, tighten packaging rules, and extend smoke-free areas. 'The overall direction of the amendment is to broaden the Act beyond conventional tobacco products,' she said, adding that the proposed changes 'create an explicit right to an environment free from tobacco use' and seek to 'protect children, young people and non-smokers.'

Opening the consultation, Kavango West Regional chairperson and Nkurenkuru Constituency councillor, Fillipus Tenga, called for community ownership of the process. 'The purpose of this consultation is to inform the public about the proposed amendments, explain why the law must be strengthened and provide an open platform for questions, concerns and recommendations,' he said, urging residents to give 'practical solutions and recommendations that strengthen the protection of everyone.'

Community members expressed strong support for tougher measures. One participant arguing for a smoking ban said: 'It doesn't give us any health benefits. It's just destroying us. If something is bad, it's bad. Let's just come to that reality.'

Another attendee calling for stricter control said the law must 'bite,' not just exist on paper. 'There should be hefty measures from all institutions, without heavy measures non-smokers will continue to suffer,' the participant said, backing tougher penalties for those who smoke where it is prohibited.

The ministry will use the Nkurenkuru submissions, along with inputs from other regions, to finalise the legislation.