Back in 2014, what started as a routine check-up for a patient turned into something Dr Rohan Sequeira, a medical doctor from India, still cherishes today. As an expert in Cardiology, Dr Sequeira had for years prescribed complete cessation of smoking to his patients as a way of slowing down the aggressiveness of cardiac-linked diseases. However,…
Former World Health Organisation (WHO) Director of Research Policy and Cooperation, Professor Tiki Pan, says Low-and Lower-Middle-Income Countries are adopting the WHO position on tobacco harm reduction hook, line and sinker despite stagnant smoking rates and the high morbidity and mortality linked to tobacco in LLMICs. Professor Pan was involved with the agency during the discussions…
In recent years, Africa has increasingly found herself at the crossroads of global health politics. On one side stand Western philanthropists and international organisations with deep pockets and strong convictions about how tobacco control should look. On the other side stand African governments and public health advocates who argue that the continent’s unique realities demand…
For over 30 years, Dr. Harper served as a consultant medical oncologist at Guy’s Hospital in London, where he revolutionized cancer care. A trailblazer in holistic treatment, he embraced this approach long before it gained mainstream acceptance. Dr. Harper warned that without bold and proactive prevention strategies, Africa risks being overwhelmed by chronic diseases that…
The Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) discourse in Africa has suffered major setbacks over the years due to persistent misinformation about nicotine, which continues to cloud public understanding. At the click of a button or tap of a smartphone screen, unverified health rumours can spread within seconds. Amid polarised policy debates and the absence of scientific…
Red-tagging – which falsely brands legitimate activists as terrorists – is used to silence land and environmental defenders online and in real life What is red-tagging? Red-tagging is a practice that connects online and real-world harms, where individuals or groups (often progressive political activists or land and environmental defenders) are labelled as communists, terrorists or…
