Stakeholders Warn Youths Against Dangers Of Taking Tobacco

Awajis George

The need to grow food and not tobacco has been emphasized as the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with management Sciences for Health organized a sensitization walk as a continuous awareness on the World No Tobacco Day in Rivers State on the dangers of Tobacco intake.

Stakeholders in the Health Sector during the walk in PortHarcourt the Rivers State capital said tobacco has lots of negative effects on humans, hence the need for the sensitization.

The stakeholders urged well meaning Nigerians to join in the fight against intake of the substance which they describe as hazardous.

Head Cardiovascular Disease and Tobacco Control NCDs Division, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health Dr. Malau Toma while outlining the dangers of Tobacco consumption, encouraged Nigerians to grow food in place of Tobacco.

Dr. Toma with Perm Sec. Dr. Utchay

Dr. Toma stated that the Federal Ministry of Health came to Rivers State for the sensitization, as it is the core mandate of the Ministry to go round the 36 States of the Federation to create awareness on the harmful effects of consuming the substance.

While calling on relevant stakeholders to join hands in the fight against Tobacco consumption, Dr.Toma advised parents to watch activities of their children and wards as the prevalent rate of consumption is high in Nigeria.

On her part, Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Health Dr. Utchay Chikanele while lauding efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, urged them to focus on the youths as they are migrating from the use of tobacco to hard drugs.

Perm Sec Dr. Utchay

Dr. Chikanele enjoined the Ministry to increase awareness on hard drugs and access the rural areas for adequate sensitization.

Also speaking, programme coordinator, Management Sciences for Health Mr. Peter Unekwuojo said globally tobacco kills over eight million people and over twenty nine thousand people annually in Nigeria.

Group photograph During the walk

He explained that the Federal Ministry of Health regularly roll out programs to disabuse the minds of Nigerians especially the Youths from tobacco intake.

Mr. Unekwuojo noted that the money spent on tobacco related diseases in Nigeria are equivalent to Nigeria's budget hence the need for the sensitization.

The walk which started at the State's secretariat in Port Harcourt with the theme ''Africa Needs Food Not Tobacco'' terminated at the Mile one Market.

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