Nigeria loses 30,000 lives to tobacco related illnesses annually – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 30,000 Nigerians die every year from illnesses caused by tobacco.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Molumbo made this known at the 2022 World No Tobacco Day held in Abuja on Tuesday.
He described tobacco as a silent killer which manifests through cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and other ailments.
“Close to 30,000 lives are lost yearly due to tobacco-related illnesses. This is far more than the 3,000 lives claimed by the COVID-19 in the three years of the pandemic,” he said.
The disclosure of the frightening health statistics came just as the federal government launched an initiative that would ensure the availability of accurate data on tobacco control activities and the disease prevalence are posted on dashboard to help intervention efforts.
According to Molumbo, this year’s event with the theme: “Tobacco: A threat to our environment,” presented an opportunity for Nigeria to right the wrongs of the past when the country failed to take necessary measures to check tobacco consumption.
Molumbo, however, commended the federal government for the current efforts to curb the negative impact of tobacco on the citizens.
He particularly commended the setting up of an emergency inter-ministerial committee to fastrack action on advocacy and sensitisation programme.
Molumbo said the next meeting of the United Nations in September may be an opportunity for Nigeria to add her voice to the global efforts to end tobacco consumption.
