At least two per cent of all deaths of men in Nigeria every year is related to tobacco use, a new global report has shown.
The
2012 Tobacco Atlas said this is the most preventable cause of death in
the country and globally. $591 million is lost annually by the country
to tobacco use in terms of health care and related expenses. Besides, it
shows that Nigerians smoke about 17 billion sticks of cigarette
annually.
The
Atlas, which is the world’s most comprehensive analysis of tobacco
related activities, shows that 21.7 per cent of youths are exposed to
second hand smoke in their homes and as such are at risk of cancer and
other allied diseases.
Girls
who use tobacco are put at 1.3 per cent, while boys, between ages 13
and 15 who use tobacco, stand at 5.6 per cent. The percentage of men who
use tobacco is put at 8.
Experts
say if this trend continues, the country will soon be dealing with a
tobacco epidemic. A tobacco control activist, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “
This madness must be stopped before it consumes more people. Imagine
the number of people dying annually from the killer products of the
tobacco giants. This sure must stop, and a way of doing that is to have
the Tobacco Control Bill signed into law and implemented.”
Akinbode
added: “We have to prevent a situation where Nigeria will become Europe
or America where at least 20 per cent of all male deaths have been
blamed on cigarette smoking. In China, tobacco use is the number one
killer, causing 1.2 million deaths annually and this is expected to rise
to 3.5 million deaths annually by the year 2030. We must not get to
this state.”
The
report said last year, tobacco use killed about six million people
globally, with nearly 80 per cent of these deaths in low- and
middle-income countries such as Nigeria. It shows that the industry
realises almost $6,000 (Sh498,000) in profit for each death caused by
tobacco.
President,
American Cancer Society (ACS) John Seffrin said tobacco giants’
activities in countries like Nigeria calls for concern. Seffrin said
they are already growing in developing countries. “We can no longer deny
or accept the massive human and economic harm costs by tobacco,” he
said.
Chief
Executive Officer, World Lung Foundation Peter Baldini said:”The
tobacco industry thrives on ignorance of the true harms of tobacco and
using misinformation to subvert health policies that could save
millions.”
The
high number of deaths has made the WHO recommend higher cigarette
prices to make them unaffordable to children and make the habit
expensive for regular smokers.
A
professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Benin,
Edo State, Friday Okonofua, said: “Indeed, the rising cases of cancer
deaths in Nigeria is becoming a national embarrassment, It is my
considered opinion that the government needs to develop a comprehensive
policy on cancer prevention and treatment, and set up an emergency task
force to implement the related plan of action. Such a policy must be
hinged on the tripod of the prevention of cancers, early recognition of
the disease and prompt treatment. We must go back to the days of
Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti when he emphasized the importance of
preventative health care. I dare say, our failure to heed his advice has
continued to plague our health care system and is the major reason for
the continued under-performance of this country in key health
indicators.”
The
Atlas, produced by the ACS in partnership with the World Lung
Foundation and endorsed by the WHO, noted: “Worldwide, smoking causes
almost 80 per cent of male and nearly 50 per cent of female lung cancer
deaths.
“Uniquely
among cancer-causing agents, however, tobacco is a man-made problem
that is completely preventable through proven public policies. These
cost-effective policies are among those included in the WHOs Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, a global treaty endorsed by more than 174
countries.”
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