World Lung Cancer Day: To Reduce Lung Cancer in Africa, We Must Also Reduce Smoking

By Joseph Magero

World Lung Cancer Day highlights that reducing smoking is the most effective way to lower lung cancer rates. In Africa, where access to cancer treatment is limited, prevention must be a primary public health objective.

Quitting all tobacco and nicotine remains the best option, yet many adults continue to smoke despite attempts. Public health policies should acknowledge this and provide evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking risks.

An important distinction is often overlooked: while nicotine is addictive, it is not the primary cause of lung cancer from smoking. The main risk comes from burning tobacco, which produces tar and thousands of toxic carcinogenic chemicals. Combustion makes cigarettes particularly harmful.

For this reason, tobacco harm reduction should be included in Africa’s tobacco control strategies.

Smoke-free nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products, do not involve burning tobacco. While not risk-free and intended only for adults who already smoke, switching completely to these alternatives can reduce exposure to many harmful chemicals linked to lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases.

Countries such as Sweden demonstrate what is possible. By providing safer nicotine alternatives alongside strong tobacco control measures, Sweden has achieved some of the lowest smoking rates and smoking-related diseases in Europe. The goal is not to suggest these products are harmless but to show that offering adult smokers better options can reduce cigarette consumption.

Africa can learn from this success.

Unfortunately, some governments are considering policies that restrict access to smoke-free products, such as high taxes, flavor bans, or strict regulations. While protecting youth is essential, regulations should also support adults who might otherwise continue smoking by ensuring safer alternatives remain affordable, accessible, and well regulated.

This is not a choice between tobacco control and harm reduction; both approaches can work together. Effective prevention campaigns, cessation support, youth protections, and clear regulations for smoke-free products can all help reduce smoking-related diseases. The primary goal should be to decrease the number of people who smoke cigarettes. Science-based policies, not those based on misconceptions, can save lives and reduce the burden of lung cancer across the continent.

To effectively prevent lung cancer, Africa must ensure that adults who are unable to quit smoking have access to safer alternatives that can help them stop using cigarettes.

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