Rwanda has announced a ban on importation and smoking of water-pipe tobacco popularly known as shisha on Friday.
The use, advertisement and import of water-pipe tobacco are banned on Rwandan territory with effect from December 15, 2017, a statement issued by Ministry of Health said.
This is to inform the public that with immediate effect the #RNP is enforcing the @RwandaHealth ban on water-pipe tobacco smoking commonly known as SHISHA.
We are urging the public to help @Rwandapolice to enforce the directive by reporting those violating it. Please call 112. pic.twitter.com/MLaHpw56l7
— Rwanda Police (@Rwandapolice) December 15, 2017
The ban is in line with World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco guidelines underlining smoking health effects such as being damaging, addictive and dangerous on human lives, the statement said.
It said that failure to comply with the directive would attract sanctions as provided by the country’s laws.
The smoke that emerges from the water-pipe is said to contain numerous toxicants known to cause lung cancer and other heart diseases, according to the ministry of health.
The ban comes about a decade after the government banned public cigarette smoking.
The ban on public cigarette smoking applies to smoking in bars, restaurants, nightclubs and workplaces.
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