As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, advocates and public health professionals says weak policies slows the county’s fight tobacco, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO)has urged government to focus on policies proven to reduce tobacco use.
Every year, on 31 May, The World No Tobacco Day 2019 will focus on the poor impact of tobacco on people’s health. Smoking can cause lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease besides wreaking disorder on your mental and physical health. However, it is never too late to quit as the WHO lists several immediate and long-term health benefits of quitting smoking.
Tobacco addiction is one of the biggest health challenges that the world is facing today. According to WHO, there are more than 1 billion smokers all around the world and this addiction kills more than 7 million people every year. Cigarette smoke contains 400 toxins, 69 known carcinogens.
Kingsley Akinroye , cardiovascular health physician, executive director Nigeria Heart Foundation, who spoke to BusinessDay in commemoration of the ‘World’s No Tobacco Day’ said that government must intensify its efforts in ensuring the anti-tobacco law to be effectively implemented with enforcement of the laws at the National level and also the involvement of the whole population, multi-stakeholders, CSOs, and industries these can be achievable.
Despite the known harms of tobacco to heart health, and the availability of solutions to reduce related death and disease, knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases is low.
Akinroye urge that everyone should realise that tobacco is the number one poison that damages the heart, leading to reduction of life span through promotion of hypertension, stroke, premature death and disability.
“Tobacco is no friend to anyone, from the new born to the young and the elderly; therefore everyone should choose health and not tobacco,” he added.
Tobacco contains nicotine, the highly-addictive ingredient that makes you crave cigarettes. So trying to quit can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary and addictive high, and eliminating that regular dose causes our body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
WHO says in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of a one-third reduction in NCD premature mortality by 2030, tobacco control must be a priority for governments and communities worldwide. Currently, the world is not on track to meeting this target.
Tobacco is the cause of nearly 90% of oral and lung cancers; however there are various other tobacco related diseases. These includes stroke, bronchitis, asthma, impotence, birth defects among others
Meanwhile experts say that quitting smoking can be hard and frustrating, but there are many ways to stop, and with trial and error you can find a method that works for you.
“Quitting all tobacco related products is the first step one can take towards improving their overall health. Initially, it might be difficult for people who have been smoking for years. But with determination and self-discipline, this can be achieved. Also the support of family, friends and timely professional are a key to helping an individual quit tobacco,” experts advised.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
