Developing Smoke Free Policies for Workplace and Healthcare Facilities in Uganda

Objectives:  To discuss the successes and challenges in developing and communicating workplace and healthcare facility smoke free policies through a public health association (PHA) in Uganda

Methods:  This presentation will synthesize the lessons learned of narrative reports, workshops, and meeting proceedings of the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH) in Uganda. 

Results:  The inclusion of tobacco control in health and safety training activities, collective bargaining agreements, and workplace inspections are examples of how UNACOH successfully communicates the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke to diverse workplace and health care settings and disciplines.   UNACOH demonstrates it can coordinate workers, managers, government officials, and public health professionals to develop smoke free policies.  The ability to cooperate and partner with fifteen workplaces using members and volunteers is a reflection of UNACOH’s leadership and established position in public health in Uganda.  Despite the lack of public awareness of legal frameworks to control tobacco use, the production of no smoking signage and leaflets, and the implementation of baseline surveys and workshops are further proof of how UNACOH has communicated the harms of tobacco use with broad tools and skills.  Although Uganda faces a number of surveillance and enforcement challenges, the work behind the development of smoke free policies has renewed the country’s goal towards stronger national tobacco control policies. 

Conclusion: Although workplaces and health care facilities in Uganda are far from smoke free, there is evidence that a PHA can lead policy changes for smoke free spaces and at the same time, communicate the risks of tobacco use for health promotion.