An alarming percentage of students exposed to smoking on school grounds

By Harry Ndienla Yemti

About 44.82 per cent of students in the republic of Cameroon are exposed to tobacco everyday at school. Consequently School environments are yet to become tobacco free zones. It is within this backdrop that the country’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education,
Catherine Abena, recently launched the national school competition on plastic arts under the theme; School free from tobacco, drugs and AIDS”.

The said competition which begins from 26th March 22, 2008, in all secondary schools in the country, is aimed at helping students express their knowledge and ideas on tobacco and HIV through arts. The competition will not only render school premises free from tobacco, drugs and HIV but will enable the artistic works of students to be used as items to sensitize the
school community against drugs and tobacco. Similarly, special prizes will be awarded to teachers who cease smoking.

The secretary of state made it clear that consumers of tobacco are not only teachers and other school administrators but students as well. Consequently several students have been involved in smoking as a result of seductive advertising messages from cigarette companies; having the spirit of being big, imitation from parents or others mates, being rebellious as a result of adolescent hood, etc.

Catherine Abena says tobacco consumption constitutes a serious menace to the health of students as well as exposing them to HIV. She notes that this will enable the ministry to bring up students to become responsible citizens who are capable of contributing to the development of the country.