By: ENEJI, Simon Ushie.
Tobacco , one of the world’s leading addictive beverages have enjoyed patronage due to its large cultivation with little or no restrictions from Government which today has become a treat to both health, economy and the environment.
The 31st of May Every year being set aside to raise awareness on the implications of cultivating, selling and consuming tobacco and it’s bye-products, the focus is now being shifted from the older generation to adolescents and teenagers who are in the “experimental phases” of their lives who try to compete with their peers or influenced by their society.
At the Duke Town Secondary School, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong with support from the Calabar Cancer Registry and other Stakeholders, kick-started a “catch them young” program focusing on exposing the younger generation to the dangers of Tobacco and it’s direct consequences to the environment.
This year’s Theme : “Stop Threat To Our Environment”, Dr Ekpenyong noted that, the continuous pollution of the environment due to Tobacco smoking has contributed to the environmental degradation and atmospheric gas imbalance which has resulted to the shortening effects of life expectancy in the country.
According to her, the growing population of Tobacco users in the country which is in a ratio of 1 in every 10 adolescents being an active smoker while 5 in 10 being passive smokers is worsening with the emergence of new products, such as electronic nicotine and tobacco products is becoming worrisome as she seek authorities to place an outright ban on tobacco advertisement and penalties for those who smoke in public places.
She charged the students to abstain from any form of pressure from their peers that will influence them negatively into a wrong path which will destroy their lives and future.
She urged the school management not to shy away from teaching the children the health , environmental and social effects of smoking which she said ,could help raise a tobacco free generation thereby help in aggregate extension of Life expectancy age in Nigerians and minimize tobacco related deaths.
The convener and Chairman of the Calabar Cancer Registry, Professor Ima-Obong Ekanem said it has become imperative for government, organizations and individuals to focus on young people and how we can prevent them from developing cancer in future, since one of the commonest cancer is lung cancer which is attributed to the use of tobacco. She also highlighted some of the activities and interventions the Calabar Cancer Registry have engaged in and their challenges which she seeked for continued support and Partnership with stakeholders.
Keynote speaker at the event, Dr Wilfred Ndifon of the Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital lamented the high percentage of lung related diseases in hospitals as presented by young adults due to over exposure to tobacco and it’s by products
He councelled them to be advocates of a tobacco addicted free generation by reporting their colleagues and peers to relevant authorities in order to safe their lives and help the ecosystem.
The special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Health, Dr David Ushie highlighted some common implications of Tobacco usage to the children.
He said, Tobacco contribute to higher percentage of world known and most dangerous cancers including lungs, throat cancers which are some of the leading causes of deaths globally.
He encouraged them to remain focused in their studies as he encouraged them to run away from bad influnces which might trauncate their futures and limit them from their goals.
The permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara, the vice Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area Hon Hogan, representative of NDLEA and other dignitaries also lend their voices to the need for a tobacco free society.
Commendations were given by the school Principal and other teachers as their promised to help in culturing the students behavior irrespective of their backgrounds as they noted that, the 2022 World No Tobacco Day will remain distinctive due to the collective contributions of all parties towards sensitizing their students.
Some students who spoke to the press said the day will remain memorable to them as it has afforded them the opportunity to know about the dangers and effects of indiscriminate tobacco consumption both as a first and second degree smokers.
