Call for action on global tobacco epidemic

The tobacco epidemic is the world’s biggest public health threat ever faced according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Each year, tobacco kills over seven million people and without urgent action the death toll from tobacco will rise above eight million by 2030. Regrettably, tobacco kills nearly half of its users while 890,000 non-smokers die yearly from exposure to second hand smoke.

Approximately 80 per cent of the world’s one billion smokers live in low and middle income countries (LMIC) Nigeria inclusive. Sadly, tobacco products consumption is rising globally especially in LMIC, but decreasing in some high and upper middle income countries (HUMIC).

The 2012 WHO Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) carried out in Nigeria, shows that 4.2 million men and 0.5million women currently use tobacco while 3.1 million adult Nigerians (7.2 per cent men and 0.3 per cent women) smoke cigarettes. Among the Nigerian youths aged 13-15 years, in public secondary schools, the 2008 WHO Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) found that 14.6 per cent to 26.1 per cent were currently using any tobacco products. This rather high rate of tobacco consumption among these students is quite worrisome since tobacco causes one in 10 adult deaths and nearly half of current smokers will die of tobacco-related diseases.

The association of tobacco with chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory disorders is well established.

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For this year 2018, the theme of World No Tobacco Day is: tobacco breaks hearts. According to the WHO Director General, Dr Tedro, it focuses on the impact of tobacco on cardiovascular health of people worldwide. “Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease” he declares further, that “despite the devastating harms of tobacco to heart health, and the availability of solutions to reduce tobacco-related death and disease, knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of CVD is low.”

In order to further improve our environments at our work places, schools, hospitals and other public places including recreational facilities, I wish to recommend to the relevant authorities the enforcement of the No Smoking Policy by clearly displaying no-smoking stickers, posters and/or erection of the smokers’ body billboards.

In addition, the formation of tobacco–free clubs in secondary and tertiary educational institutions as well as establishment by the NYSC of a CDS tobacco-free programme in all the 36 states and the FCT would be of immense value to the young people. Formation of such clubs and having the CDS Tobacco-free programme would help keep the Nigerian youthful population healthy and free from tobacco-related ailments.

Finally, be warned that tobacco kills 50 per cent of all its users and breaks the heart of non-users.

Prof. Ima-Obong A. Ekanem,

Calabar