Health Feature: Tobacco Awareness Month

In this episode of The Best of 702 Weekend Breakfast, Dr. Donald Kumete, a general practitioner and national healthcare professor, joins host Gogs to discuss the challenges of tobacco use during Anti-Tobacco Awareness Month and ahead of World No Tobacco Day. Dr. Kumete argues that tobacco use is fundamentally a social problem rather than just a health issue, emphasizing that regulations like smoking bans in public spaces only protect passive smokers but fail to prevent youth from starting. He stresses the importance of early education in homes and schools, highlighting that habits form in as little as 66 days and that parental supervision and financial oversight—such as controlling pocket money—are critical in curbing youth smoking. The conversation also touches on the role of marketing, particularly the appeal of flavored vapes and the glamorization of smoking in media and influencer culture, which continues to attract young people despite health risks. Listeners share personal stories, including one from Joshua Matabela who avoided smoking due to a negative physical reaction and strict parenting, underscoring the power of parental involvement. The episode concludes with a call for systemic change in how tobacco and vaping are marketed and perceived, especially to youth.