Shisha ban: Rwanda slaps total prohibition on water-pipe tobacco

Rwanda has with immediate effect (Decemebr 15, 2017) placed a total ban on the use of water-pipe tobacco popularly known as ‘shisha.’

A statement signed by the Health Minister, Diane Gashumba, said the ban was in pursuant to a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory note.

“The note expressed that shisha tobacco smoking is damaging, addictive and dangerous on human lives. Adding that the smoke from shisha pipes contained intoxicants that were harmful to human health.

“Accordingly, the Ministry of Health informs the general public that the use, advertisement and import of water-pipe tobacco known as SHISHA tobacco is banned from Rwandan territory effective from 15th December, 2017,” the note added.

The Ministry of Health has issued a ban on water-pipe tobbaco smoking known as Shisha effective Friday Dec 15. RwandaHealth pic.twitter.com/Eaauq2zqX2

— The New Times (Rwanda) (NewTimesRwanda) December 14, 2017

The WHO have said smoke inhaled in a typical one hour shisha smoking session is equal to inhaling smoke from as many as 100 sticks of cigarette.

But the country is not the first in the sub region to have made such a move. Neighboring Tanzania took the lead in that direction. Other countries to have banned it include Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan.

The smoking of shisha has become fashionable especially among young people across the continent.