The Right to Life, Right to Health and Right to Information are International Fundamental Human Rights. The Right to Health is founded upon the right to life. Article 25 of the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.”
The United Nations legislatively embodied the economic and social parameters of this right in the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which elaborates the right to health to include “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” Also, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has found that the right to health encapsulates a “right to control one’s health and body,” guaranteeing the enjoyment of “a variety of facilities, goods, services and conditions necessary for the realization of the highest attainable standard of health”.
The human rights are sacrosanct and all around the world, there is a rise in the rate at which people become conscious and lay demands on social and economic rights, the right to equality, dignity, justice, participation, and an adequate standard of living – as enshrined in the Universal Declaration. They expect transparency and accountability from their governments. They want to know how decisions are made, how money is spent, whose interests are protected, who is given voice and so forth. This applies to tobacco. They expect their governments to exercise leadership and stewardship in creating the conditions in which they can enjoy good health. This assumes a key driver in policy formulation, adjudication of initiatives and execution of strategies that are associated with the health of the populace.
The concept of harm reduction seeks to provide channels through which the impact of an envisaged problem can be minimized or buffered. Harm reduction is a potent strategy that has gained credence in the safety industry with the introduction of seat belts in automobile safety, helmet in construction, railings on bridge, etc., and much progress has been reported to this end. The introduction of harm reduction strategies on tobacco consumption has been met with mixed reaction but it’s potency cannot be overemphasized when compared to other measures taken in time past and more so, it doesn’t infringe on the rights of both consumers and non-consumers.
Countries where tobacco harm reduction strategies have gained acceptance cum adoption recorded a significant decrease in tobacco consumption as expressed in the Global Tobacco Harm Reduction (GTHR) report (2018). Tobacco use is recognized as one of the main shared modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially in developing countries. There is also a significant rise in tobacco consumption in developing countries and this has been linked to the steady increase in the number of persons crossing the poverty line. It’s presumed to be largely a case of more money, more consumption. Likewise, the ripple effect tobacco consumption poses on NCDs has gained global interest with the sharp increase in the prevalence of tuberculosis in 2018.
At present, tobacco harm reduction is the most probable approach to regulate tobacco consumption, protect human rights and attain sustainable health. However, it’s slow adoption, especially among countries in the gulf and global south, poses significant setbacks in the presumed progress going forward. Albeit, public opinion breeds largely on a draught in information about these strategies hence the need for capacity building and advocacy campaign to highlight the impact each strategy present as well as the options available. A field demonstration and case study should be published and promoted by people of influence to create a shift in perception and acceptance.
Taking a cue from such initiatives (safety) akin to THR, gives a positive note on the ripple effect that THR strategies will have on the general well-being of all humanity. Since the right to health is sacrosanct and must be given due preference by every government who is a party to the Charter of Universal Declaration on Human Rights, thus the tools needed to engage the execution of strategies that impacts on sustainable health must be geared towards attaining localized solutions across board. Only then will we truly be able to attain the input and benefits of THR on global health.
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Article was written by our Volunteer Ambassadors: Odey Goodness Ogeyi; Oluwatosin Ogunsola and Uyioghosa Benedo Osadolor, THR Nigeria.
