Ministry to draft Legislative Instrument on Public Health Act
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health, has said she could not tell when the Legislative Instrument (LI) on the Public Health Act would be ready for the implementation of the tobacco control measures.
However, she said, the ministry was in full support of civil societies that were into health activities in the country and would ensure that the necessary steps were taken for the speedily drafting of the LI.
Ms Ayittey gave the assurance when the executives of the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a non-governmental organization (NGO) and other leaders of civil society groups called on her on Monday to appeal for the fast-tracking of the LI.
She urged the VALD to take steps which would lead to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry to support them in their programmes.
The VALD was established in January 2006 to promote alternative initiatives for sustainable development at all levels of the society through advocacy, lobbying, sensitization, engagement, meeting and capacity building on tobacco control and health issues, empowerment and community support in good governance.
Over the years its main focus had been of creating the awareness of the harmful effect of tobacco use and the sensitization of the public of the tobacco control measures of the Act, which had banned tobacco smoking in public.
Ms Ayittey said the LI was in the process and that the civil society should put whatever additions and amendment they wanted in a communique to the Ministry for stakeholders to study and onward submission to the Attorney General’s office.
She asked the group to liaise with the Regenerative Health Department so that they could work together for the process to move faster.
The Minister commended the VALD for the good work it was doing and that the Ministry was in full support of their efforts.
Mr Issah Ali, Executive Director of VALD said the NGO has over the years collaborated with the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS) and World Health Organization (WHO) to undertaker numerous tobacco control activities.
He said the organization has contributed immensely to getting a draft LI which was still under review and that they wanted the ministry to swiftly and urgently present it to Parliament for adoption.
This would help reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke especially among the youth.
Mr Ali said “Currently VALD is undertaking school and community sensitization on effects of tobacco and the provisions of the Tobacco Control Measures of the Public Health Act and wish to get financial support from the Ministry’.
“This will help us move from Greater Accra to other regions of Ghana to sensitize and raise awareness on the effects of tobacco and the key provisions of the control measures of the Act.”
Mr Ali expressed gratitude and congratulated the Health Minister and acknowledged all personalities who contributed to the passage of the Public Health Act and their showing of commitment to the tobacco control in Ghana.
Source: GNA