40% of Cancer Diagnoses Linked to Tobacco, CDH Reveals

By Chapala Chikoyi

The Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) has described the Tobacco Control Bill, NAB Number 40 of 2025, as a transformative opportunity for cancer prevention in Zambia.

In a comprehensive submission to the National Assembly Committee on Health, the hospital detailed how the proposed legislation could significantly reduce the escalating burden of tobacco-related cancers across the country.

The hospital reported that tobacco use is implicated in at least 40 percent of all cancer diagnoses, with cancers of the oesophagus, colorectum, liver and lung ranking among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.

Representing the institution, Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Susan Msandabwe told the committee that the Bill’s provisions are closely aligned with the National Cancer Control Strategic Plan (2022–2026). She noted that stronger tobacco regulation would serve as a critical preventive measure in reducing new cancer cases.

Dr. Msandabwe emphasized that comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, strict enforcement of smoke-free public environments and sustained nationwide public education campaigns are essential to reducing tobacco initiation, particularly among young people, while encouraging cessation among current users. She stressed that lowering cancer incidence would significantly ease pressure on the country’s overstretched health infrastructure.

The CDH delegation, which included Head of Clinical Care Dr. Paul Kamfwa and pathologist Dr. Aaron Shibemba, also highlighted troubling trends in tobacco-associated cancers. They presented data indicating a steady rise in oesophageal, colorectal and lung cancer cases between 2018 and 2022, underscoring the urgency of preventive interventions.

Health experts further warned that emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are rapidly entering the Zambian market. According to the delegation, these products are often marketed with flavoured options that appeal to young people, raising concerns about the risk of a new generation developing nicotine addiction.

The hospital called for the explicit inclusion of these emerging products within the regulatory framework of the Tobacco Control Bill to close potential loopholes and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

CDH concluded that passing the Bill would represent a decisive step toward reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, while reinforcing the country’s broader public health agenda.