MINISTRY of Health officers have welcomed the move by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to restrict the use and importation of vaping products, describing the move as an important step towards protecting young people from harmful substances.
The officials highlighted the potential health risks associated with vaping, the growing use of the products among adolescents and the need for public education to discourage the practice.
Director of Primary Healthcare Services Dr Ertenisa Hamilton said the decision was timely, noting that findings from the ministry’s school screening programme had identified vaping as an area of concern among adolescents.
The director said the findings reinforced the need for measures to protect young people, who represent the country’s future generation.
“Our children are going to be the next generation that takes our country forward, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they become healthy adults, and that they adopt healthy habits. Vaping isn’t one of those habits that promotes good health,” Dr Hamilton said.
The ministry is also working to develop a substance use strategy with a dedicated focus on adolescents.
The strategy is expected to address education, health promotion, parental guidance, and measures to prevent young people from accessing harmful substances.
Meanwhile, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Dr Lachmie Lall commended President Ali’s decision, emphasising the importance of protecting the respiratory system from harmful substances contained in vaping products.
Dr Lall, whose programme oversees tobacco control and regulation, explained that vaping products can expose users to heavy metals, including lead, which can contribute to adverse health effects.
“It is important to know that vapes contain heavy metals, such as lead, and every time you puff from a vape, you are introducing those heavy metals into your lungs, and those can cause disease,” Dr Lall said.
The director also raised concerns about the potential effects of vaping on young people’s concentration, mood and long-term health, while warning about the addictive nature of nicotine-containing products.
Dr Lall urged parents to take an active role in discouraging vaping by monitoring their children’s activities, asking questions about their purchases and discussing the potential dangers.
Moreover, the director said public awareness was important in helping young people understand the risks and make healthier choices.
Director of Training and Education at the Ministry, Dr Chandraudie Prasad-Bahadur also welcomed the President’s decision, noting that vaping had become increasingly accepted among some young people, partly because of peer pressure and limited awareness of its health effects.
The director stressed that education must begin at an early age to help young people develop healthy habits and understand the importance of protecting their wellbeing.
“Health is important, and it doesn’t mean when you age, that’s where you start taking care of yourself. It starts from a very young age,” Dr Prasad-Bahadur said.
Through its training and education programmes, the ministry also intends to support awareness efforts across the regions and communities, ensuring that young people and their families receive information about the dangers of substance use.
The health officials’ support for the ban reflects the importance of a coordinated approach involving the government, health professionals, parents and communities to discourage vaping and safeguard the health of future generations. (DPI)
