The government of Rwanda has banned smoking of Shisha tobacco and water pipes on their territory.
In a letter drafted by the Health minister Dr. Diane Gasumba ,she cited the World Health Organization (WHO) advisory that claimed water pipe tobacco was damaging, addictive and that the smoke had toxicants that were known to cause lung cancer.
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The ban takes effect on December 15.
The government of Rwanda though the ministry has warned those found using the water pipe tobacco will face the full force of the law.
Last month, Tobacco Control Board released a report showing an increase in the smoking of shisha among young women which is posing a great danger to the next generation.
Ms Isabella Karanja, a member of the board, said a big population of the young people in urban areas are addicts of shisha which is a combination of many drugs.
“Inside the (shisha) pot there is a mixture of so many drugs among them heroin, cocaine and bhang and therefore one becomes an addict of numerous drugs,” said Ms Karanja.
She noted that the effects have been felt mostly by women of childbearing age who develop complications during pregnancy.
It also leads to an increase in cases of still births.
“Men have also been affected in that cases have been reported of men with a low sperm count,” she said.
She noted that one gulp of shisha is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes and this, therefore, shortens the lifespan of the smokers more quickly.
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