Experts advocate Tobacco control at grassroots to curb NCDs

It has been emphasized that for Nigeria to effectively address tobacco use and exposure—which can lead to adverse effects associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—tobacco control programs must be implemented across various states and local governments. This requires a multisectoral approach involving all stakeholders.

This assertion was made by Solomon Adoga, the Senior Programme Officer of the Civil Society for Legislation Advocacy Center (CISLAC), during a one-day training on tobacco taxation and gender mainstreaming for members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Bauchi State Chapter, organized by CISLAC.

Solomon Adoga noted that effective control of tobacco use and smoking in public spaces can reduce the prevalence of NCDs by up to 80 percent.

He also stated that a gender-responsive approach to tobacco control could help decrease exposure to NCDs such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and mental illness.

This approach would particularly benefit the most vulnerable populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and could help prevent premature mortality.

Solomon Adoga added, “Tobacco use among adults, adolescents, and vulnerable groups of all genders is a preventable cause of all non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” adding that there is an increasing threat of the burden of Tobacco consumption to girls and women’s health in low and middle-income countries.

He said that NCDs are the leading causes of death globally, pointing out that in 2016, NCDs accounted for 71 percent of deaths worldwide and 31.5 million of the deaths were recorded in low and middle-income countries.

Speaking on Gender Disparity and Tobacco Taxation policy implementation, Solomon Adoga said that a gender responsive Tobacco Tax policy will seek to reduce Tobacco consumption and its attributed diseases among women.

He added that the pattern of use, the impact of the consequences of tobacco use, the price responsiveness of men and women to tax changes differ along gender lines.

He noted that irrespective of the differences,Tobacco taxation and Tobacco control measures remains gender neutral, stressing that there must be gender responsiveness in the formulation of Tobacco Control Programmes like cessation Programmes, awareness creation and smoke-free enforcement.

Speaking earlier in a welcome remark, the Finance and Admin Officer of CISLAC, Mohammed Murtala said that Female Journalists have the power to promote tobacco taxation and control in the society by educating the public through their various news platforms.

He urged the participants to utilise the knowledge gained at the training by becoming advocates for Tobacco control, particularly among youths and women in order to reduce threats on health and economy.

Also speaking, Rasheeda Yusuf, the Bauchi State NAWOJ Chairperson, said that the training was aimed at updating participants on tobacco taxation for media contents.

According to her, “We report and develop media content to highlight the risks of tobacco consumption and taxation and also engage women and children in our various programmes.”

“The need to advocate for gender mainstreaming should not be over-emphasized as women suffer directly or indirectly to most of these risks”, she said.

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