Maldivian Nurses Association appeals to ban vape to protect youth generation

Maldivian Nurses Association (MNA) has appealed to ban vape and e-cigarettes to protect young children and the youth.

Various entities have recently called to ban products containing tobacco, especially vape and e-cigarettes.  

MNA has also followed suit and released a statement appealing to the relevant authorities to ban vape and e-cigarettes.

The statement read that United States’ Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a joint statement based on current technical information on the health risks associated with e-cigarettes in which they called to stop the use of e-cigarettes.

NDA stressed that the rising popularity of e-cigarettes which contain tobacco has created a new generation of tobacco users exposed to various health complications associated with it. Meanwhile, vaping liquids, they noted, contained harmful substances such as nicotine, an addictive chemical in tobacco, menthol, and flavoring to replicate the taste of sweets, fruits and other food products among other chemicals.

“The safety of the e-cigarette device has not been certified by any country. While e-cigarettes have been linked to various heath complications, it has also been cited as a source paving the way for drug addiction,” the statement read.

It also referred to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 which showed a rapid rise in the number of children using e-cigarettes, with 17.1 percent of children reporting use.

In light of these facts, MNA called upon relevant authorities to follow by the example of other nations in taking comprehensive steps to protect the youth generation.

“We plead to protect our young children and the youth and in this trajectory, called upon the President and the government to ban e-cigarettes with immediate effect,” said MNA.

Notably, the Maldives Medical Association comprising of doctors and NCD Alliance have also called for swift action to ban vape and e-cigarettes in the Maldives.

Maldives National Party (MNP) also made a similar appeal last night.