Boi Jeneh Jalloh is Executive Director FORUT. She said every year; countries all over the world celebrate World No Tobacco Day, noting that everybody knows the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and that over the years, lots of restrictions have been placed on smoking but that the habit still prevails.

According to the Executive Director, drugs including tobacco are harmful particularly for children. She maintained that even cigarettes and tobacco products are sold with health warnings, adding that that is why they are working with the National Tobacco Task Force and that particularly the SLMSA would mount a campaign among the 25 schools FORUT is supporting this year.

“In these schools we have children and young people clubs (CYPs) whom we normally work with. We distribute prevention and warning messages against the use of alcohol and drugs. But this year, we want to focus on tobacco,” Jalloh said. 

“We know that schools are venues for socialization of children and because we are working with children in schools they are easy to access,” Jalloh said. 

During his sensitization drive at the Government Model Secondary School, Abdul Amid Kargbo, a member of SLMSA said they are embarking on the sensitizing school children on the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and discourage students that are in the habit to desist.

He added that they are targeting school children because at the moment, research shows that the number of tobacco smokers is between the ages of 11 to 18 years and attending school.