The Ministry of Health and Wellness has set up a task team to consider how the tobacco levy could be channelled towards funding tobacco control activities, a senior health official has said.
Chief health officer, Setshwano Mokgweetsinyana told participants at the inaugural Anti-Tobacco Network (ATN) public lecture at the University of Botswana recently that communication would soon be issued detailing the criteria to access the funds.
The Government introduced the levy in 2014 with the objective of funding anti-tobacco initiatives and other related activities. The health ministry explained the development was in recognition of the contribution of tobacco as the main risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases.