As part of the social protection of Anguilla, a Tobacco Control Bill is to be introduced on the island, according to information in the Executive Council’s Minutes dated August 24, 2018.
The proposed Bill was discussed at a meeting involving members of the Executive Council, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, and Director of the Chronic Diseases Unit, Mrs. Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson. Both health professionals were thanked by Executive Council for their presentations.
EXCO also endorsed the structure of the coming draft legislation which will seek to:
• Establish all indoor workplaces and outdoor/indoor places to be 100% smoke free;
• Implement large, visible, and regularly ch
anging health warnings and messages on tobacco product packages coming into the port;
• Enforce a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship to protect all ages from being targeted by the tobacco industry;
• Prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law; and
• Use education and communication approaches to increase public awareness and support for approval and enforcement of effective tobacco control policies.
The Executive Council has requested the Ministry of Social Development to engage with the Attorney General’s Chambers to commence drafting on the Tobacco Control Bill; and agreed that consultation and sensitizing the public should begin.
Meanwhile, in a separate discussion, the Executive Council raised concerns about the continued international health advisory which has Anguilla included in the high risk category for the Zika virus.
The Chief Medical Officer noted that she, along with Public Health England, were working hard to have this position revised as an urgent matter. She further noted that Anguilla was seeking to become one of the operational research centres in the region, and that the Ministry of Health had been in contact with PAHO and UK counterparts in an effort for Anguilla to become an operational research centre. She added that the support of the Executive Council would be solicited in this undertaking.
