Tobacco Epidemic, Threat To Public Health – Dir

By: Prudence Okonna

Tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the World has ever faced with its harmful effects.

The Director, Public Health Department (PHD), in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Doris John, stated this during a sensitization campaign in commemoration of the ‘World No Tobacco Day 2024’, organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Tuesday at the Government Science Technical College Garki, Abuja.

According to her, “Tobacco use is the major cause for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive airway disease, stroke and cancers”.

The Director said that others include tooth decay, blindness, hearing loss, poor wound healing, fragile bones, wrinkling of skin, low birth weight and sub-fertility.

The Director, therefore, calls on Tobacco Industry to desist from targeting children.

The measure, John said will improve the well-being of children and young adults, thereby protecting them from indulging in unhealthy practices.

Her words: “We in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) enjoins the Tobacco Industry to desist from targeting children with harmful products.”

She said that the essence of the visit to the school is to emphasize the unhealthy effects of Tobacco especially on children.

John revealed that among other efforts, the FCT Administration has adopted policies that shield the children from manipulative practices of the Tobacco and related industries, including the establishment of a Tobacco Control Desk Office, and has embarked on sensitization campaigns in 25 Senior Secondary Schools in FCT, in the past two years.

“Other efforts are training of law enforcement officers, conducting mapping, and baseline assessment on the compliance of indoor and outdoor in public places with the provision of Tobacco control acts,” the Director emphasized.

John, therefore, called on the members of the fourth estate of the realm to help propagate the expectations of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat and stakeholders on the journey to achieving zero tolerance for tobacco industry interference among children both in and out of school in the FCT.

Also speaking at the event, the World Health Organisation representative for FCT, Dr. Kumshida Balami advised the students to be watchful and refuse to fall prey to strategies by tobacco industries to lure them into using Tobacco, especially through social media.

“The Tobacco industry is painting the illusion that Tobacco is good but the truth is, it is a serious poison to your health, education, and future,” she added.

Speaking earlier, the head of the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Public Health Department, Dr. Olubunmi Adeyemi, said the theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day, “Protecting the Children from Tobacco Industry Interference” is apt as children are unduly exposed to second-hand smoking, which is worse as adults who smoke around children expose them to the harmful effects of the habit.

She noted that World No Tobacco Day is marked on May 31 annually but the FCT administration deems it necessary to still commemorate the day as it is important to sensitize and protect children.

Abuja Digest reports that in Nigeria, 25,000 children between 10-14 years old are daily Tobacco users while the age of Tobacco use initiation is between thirteen and fifteen years.

Abuja Digest further reports that in Secondary Schools and Universities, studies show Shisha smoking rates between three to seven percent, as studies also show that most smokers start before age eighteen years.