World No Tobacco Day: Government steps up anti-tobacco awareness in schools

“Tobacco and nicotine products do not represent freedom, style or modernity – they represent addiction and disease,” stated the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mrs Anishta Babooram.

She was speaking, today, at the launch of a workshop bringing together administrative cadres of primary and secondary schools to raise awareness on tobacco and nicotine consumption among children and adolescents. The representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr A.S Gueye, along with other dignitaries, attended the event.

This initiative of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, forms part of a series of activities organised to commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme, “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”.

Information pamphlets on the dangers of tobacco and nicotine products, were launched on the occasion.

In her address, Junior Minister, Mrs Anishta Babooram, emphasised that tobacco and nicotine products remain inherently addictive and dangerous. She noted that the industry employs evolving strategies specifically designed to target young people, using enticing flavours, attractive packaging, social media influence and misleading messages.

Mrs Babooram reaffirmed that the Government views tobacco control as a vital national responsibility, adding that as a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the country has implemented decisive measures to protect public health-efforts that have earned significant international recognitions.

She indicated that the Government is tackling tobacco use through a combination of public smoking bans, advertising and sponsorship regulations, strong packaging warnings, and taxation to reduce affordability, highlighting that free tobacco cessation support is available across 16 dedicated clinics.

Furthermore, she pointed out that in a bid to protect young people, policies have been tightened against public smoking, flavoured tobacco, e-cigarettes, and emerging nicotine products, warning that the first puff is the first step in the cycle of addiction.

She thus urged for a combined approach of enforcement, education, and vigilance, while underlining the crucial roles of schools in early prevention by equipping students with the knowledge to resist industry tactics, before experimentation turns into addiction.

According to Mrs Babooram, strong laws can restrict access but strong education can build resistance.

01 June 2026

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Topics: Health