A National Appeal to Mr. President
A large body of research shows that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) such as hypertension and cancers are the leading cause of deaths globally. Developing countries with a large human population like Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of these diseases.
A major risk factor that is common to most NCDS is tobacco smoking. The dangers of tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke cannot be overemphasized. This is because tobacco use is presently the leading cause of deaths globally, causing more deaths than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined. As a result, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other intergovernmental agencies are making frantic efforts to control tobacco consumption and to protect the world from the tobacco epidemic.
Most developed countries have taken the initiative to implement the guidelines of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in order to protect their citizens. In Nigeria, the tobacco control legislation (in form of the Nigeria National Tobacco Control Bill) has been passed into law by the National Assembly after about three years of delay, but it presently awaits the Presidential assent.
Mr. President, our people are dying from preventable tobacco-related diseases. We might be tempted to say that smokers have a choice and should be responsible for the consequences of their choices. But we should remember that most smokers begin to smoke during their teenage years, when they are not well informed and unable to resist peer pressure and societal influences; they become addicted because of the addictive effect of nicotine and would sometimes require professional assistance to quit smoking. What about those exposed to secondhand smoke? Who protects the non-smokers from inhaling the over 69 cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke?
The tobacco control bill has some components that have been proven to be effective in reducing tobacco smoking and tobacco-related diseases/deaths. We therefore, use this opportunity to appeal to Mr. President to give his assent to this bill and provide the political will for its full implementation and enforcement. We also want him to create an enabling tobacco control environment that would encourage extensive research and engage the necessary stakeholders to contribute to the protection of Nigerians from this public health hazard.
The health of Nigerians is top priority and it should not be compromised, not even on economic grounds. We should not listen to those whose selfish interests override the health and well being of our people. All efforts should be put in place to safeguard our greatest asset as a country (our health), and protect Nigerians from the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and other Non-Communicable diseases.
God bless Mr. President, God bless Nigeria.
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
non communicable diseases
,nigeria
,president
,tobacco control
,dr olusegun owotomo
,who fctc
,nigeria national tobacco control bill
A fast way to get gout relief is with baking soda which I've found it to be very effective. But now that I have gotten my uric acid levels under control I don't need to use this home remedy anymore.
Gout was once the 'disease of kings' due to their diet, but not any more. Anybody can have gout nowadays. Easy access to relatively cheap, mass-produced food and alcohol has meant that we are all at the mercy of gout through our diet.
Protruded discs are a major orthopedical challenge these days, as the cases of spondilitis and other chronic skeletal diseases increase in a daily basis. The orthopedic in NJ have found many solutions to this problem while working in the Center for pain management in New Jersey. The following is an insight to their unique treatment processes.
We need to keep our omega 6 foods at a minimum and include more omega 3 into our diets. Adding food items such as walnuts, chia seeds, to our salads is a simple and natural way to get our omega.
Most children demonstrate some impulsive/hyperactive behavior or have difficulty remaining on-task. Although typically found in boys, in 3-7% percent of children the inattentive, hyperactive, and/or impulsive behavior is recognized by clinician as being a significant problem that is not typical of normal development.
A comprehensive tobacco control structure is exigently needed in Nigeria, also needed is the coordination of the activities of tobacco control related organizations, extensive tobacco control research, local and global partnerships and continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the goals of the WHO FCTC is actualized in the most populous country in Africa.
Safeguarding the health of the citizens is the responsibility of any people-oriented government. The ban of smoking in public places is one of the proven ways of controlling tobacco consumption and reducing tobacco- related diseases and deaths. The products of the tobacco industry are generally known and even self-acclaimed to be addictive and injurious to one's health, causing several health conditions. In simple terms, the tobacco industry is a threat to the health sector of any country. There
Since smokers are responsible for their health despite their knowledge of the health damaging effects of tobacco smoking, the health of non-smokers should be protected not only by the smokers but also by the law. The importance of the effective passage and enforcement of the Nigerian National Tobacco Control Bill cannot be overemphasized. We all have a role to play, our legislators have within their hands, the power to save our generation from the scourge of the tobacco industry.
Could it be that the house-mates of the BBA are enjoying their freedom and simply expressing themselves, or could there be more to it? Would it be wrong for us to assume that the BBA house is gradually becoming an avenue to market or communicate some habits to the youths? Could this be a strategy by an industry to increase its market and perhaps could probably be one of the sponsors of this show!
Discuss this Article
