Rwanda bans Shisha smoking over health concerns

The Ministry of Health on Friday announced a ban on all kinds of Shisha tobacco that include the popular minty shisha, fruity shisha and Fumari Shisha among others in Rwanda.

In a public notice dated, 14/12/2017, the government further censored advertisements, merchandising and smoking of water pipe Tobacco effective immediately.

According to the notice, Shisha smoking is damaging, addictive and dangerous on human lives.

“…Failure to comply with this notice sanctions as provided by the law will be applied,” read the notice in part

This comes after the World Health Organization, which is identified as a pursuant to the case, revealed that the smoke emerging from the water-pipe contains numerous toxicants  known to cause lung cancer and heart diseases.

The Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention also says that hookah smoke contains many of the same harmful toxins as cigarette smoke and has been associated with lung cancer, respiratory illness, low birth weight, and periodontal disease.

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO)[550 KB] also indicates that a hookah smoking session may expose the smoker to more smoke over a longer period of time than occurs when smoking a cigarette.