It is claimed that on an annual basis, tobacco kills over 8 million people globally. This is not only worrying but calls for concerted efforts to mitigate its impact.
However, the question that continues to linger in mind is that since it is lethal, why are tobacco companies allowed to produce these products that continue to harm people.
Also, figures revealed that around 80% of the world's 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries.
Experts indicate that all forms of tobacco use are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide. Other tobacco products include waterpipe tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, heated tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks, and smokeless tobacco products.
In our Thursday edition, we ran a story in which the minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh revealed the lethal nature of tobacco and the devastating impact it is having on the country’s youth, who he said, continue to use any form of tobacco products.
In view of this fact, he noted that the country is sitting on a timed-bomb which will explode in years to come, as these youths using tobacco will suffer the consequence at a time when the country needs them badly to shoulder the affairs of the country and to raise families and bring food to the table.
These words were contained in a statement read on his behalf by Dr. Momodou T Nyassi, acting director of Health Services, the Health Minister.
It is important to state here that the Minister’s statement is not only quite apt, but also highlights the growing culture of smoking among the country’s youth population.
It is of great concern that 16% of the country’s population aged 15 years and above smoke cigarettes and further 8.4 youth aged 12 to 20 years use shisha, another deadly form of tobacco now getting out of hand.
At this point, we cannot but commend the Health Ministry and partners for the gains made in the health promotion and protection especially on tobacco control legislation.
This is not only a good reference point just in Africa, but something that other countries could draw a benchmark upon when developing their own tobacco laws. Another move is the embargo placed on tobacco advertisements in the country.
Globally, tobacco use is on the rise and new smokers account for a significant number. With a population of more than 2.5 million, it is therefore a moral obligation on parents, guardians and adults to intensify advocacy against tobacco use especially in public places.
Let’s always remember that tobacco is detrimental to our health and those around us.