Yatenga: The Community Health Department, through its tobacco control program, organized a training and awareness session on Thursday in Ouahigouya on smoking and the legal framework relating to protection against exposure to tobacco smoke in Burkina Faso for the benefit of public place owners, media personnel, managers of public transport companies and representatives of the public forces.
According to Burkina Information Agency, participants were informed about the consequences of passive smoking and learned about the texts (law, decree, order) on protection against exposure to tobacco smoke in Burkina Faso. Participants also learned about public places where smoking cigarettes or using shisha is strictly prohibited in Burkina Faso. These include administrative offices, educational institutions, meeting rooms, health facilities, public transport, and recreational areas.
The penalties provided by law (fines) for non-compliance with the smoking ban in these public places were disclosed to the participants. Through its anti-tobacco program, the Ministry of Health intends to contribute to the sustainable protection of the health of non-smokers and smokers alike, to the prevention of young people starting to consume tobacco and to the preservation of a healthy environment, conducive to the well-being of the population.