Tobacco illnesses drain K55bn annually—Alliance

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Alliance Malawi has said while tobacco continues to underpin the country’s economy its related illnesses are costing an estimated K55.2 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. The alliance said in a statement yesterday to commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2026, the figure highlights the growing health and economic burden associated with tobacco use. It said tobacco use remains one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, and diabetes.

NCD Malawi said evidence indicates youth smoking prevalence stands at about 6.4 percent compared to 5.3 percent among adults signifying the growing vulnerability of young people to nicotine addiction. The al l iance joi n ed the global community yesterday in commemorating the World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme ‘Unmask the appeal: #TobaccoExposed’. “NCD Alliance reminds the government and relevant authorities of the country’s commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [WHO FCTC], calling for strengthened implementation and enforcement of tobacco control measures,” reads the statement signed by NCD Alliance chairperson Maud Mwakasungula.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco kills more than eight million people globally each year including over one million deaths caused by exposure to second-hand smoke. Drug Fight Malawi executive director Nelson Zakeyu has since called on government to fully implement its obligations under the WHO FCTC to strengthen protection of citizens from the health risks linked to tobacco use. He expressed concern in an interview that three years after the country ratified the convention, progress in protecting citizens from tobacco-related health impacts remains limited. Malawi’s green gold delivered its most lucrative growing season last year in more than two decades when it raked in $517 million, almost K1 trillion from sales of 205.3 million kilogrammes.