Mr Sixtus Onyekwere a facilitator in the program “Role Of States In Tobacco Control” organized by Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa with support from Cancer Research UK and Development Gateway has said consumers of tobacco have ten year lower life expectancy than non smokers of tobacco.
Mr Onyekwere made the disclosure during a capacity development workshop for tobacco control in PortHarcourt on Wednesday, 26 July,2023.
He said tobacco consumption kills eight million people globally each year according to report by World Health Organization (WHO) with Nigeria accounting for twenty nine thousand deaths .
Mr Onyekwere explained that the economic consequences of tobacco related diseases on Nigerian economy are reported to be 1.71 billion US dollars yearly,hence there is need to implement effective tobacco control policies to reduce the level of tobacco consumption in Nigeria.
Mr Onyekwere further explained that the Federal Government of Nigeria enforced tobacco control policies through higher taxes on tobacco products,ban on public smoking, regulations on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, mandatory graphic health warning on tobacco packages as well as allocating resources to support tobacco control programs and campaigns,monitor impact of tobacco use and effectiveness of tobacco control policies.
He however regretted that despite Federal Government effort in tobacco control,states have not done much in this regards as only Lagos,Oyo,Ekiti states as well as Federal Capital Territory have successfully implemented tobacco control law.
He opined that it is important for states to implement tobacco control laws as the high health costs associated with tobacco use, related illnesses place a huge burden on state Governments in terms of providing health care services and treating tobacco related diseases.
Another facilitator,Mr Ezra Ihezie while speaking on the topic, MPOWER Framework and Role Of Sub National Government On Tobacco Control,said states can control consumption of tobacco and enact prevention policies through conducting State -led surveys, monitoring of tobacco related content in media,prohibition of distribution of free tobacco products to Youth and the public, requiring tobacco retailers to hold license to sell tobacco products ,placing absolute smoking bans in public places, promoting educational and awareness campaigns on tobacco,offer help to quit tobacco use,warn about dangers of tobacco etc.
Highpoints of the workshop was groups discussion where participants called for proper synergy between the Federal Ministry of Health and States on control of tobacco consumption,need for states to enact laws and enforce the laws etc.
Our correspondent reports that Civil Society Groups, personnel from Primary and Secondary Health Board in Rivers State were in attendance.