Either by omission or commission, it is interesting how many people fail to take into consideration immediate & long-term impact of a smoking lifestyle. Infact, it is quite common especially amongst young people who smoke to debate and argue about the effects their bodies have to deal with. It is only as smokers get older & side-effects become more obvious that some smokers accept the UNDENIABLE truth.
It is a well-established fact that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke which typically do not occur until years after a person’s first cigarette. Unfortunately, smokers seem to turn blind eyes on these health hazards, even when it’s clearly written on the packs.
However, human behavior is not ONLY influenced by facts as there is a myriad of social and cultural factors since a common connotation of smoking means it is seen as a stress reliever although medical science has shown the numerous & immediate health risks it poses to the brain, the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immune and metabolic systems. While these immediate effects do not all produce noticeable symptoms, most begin to damage the body with the first cigarette sometimes irreversibly – and rapidly produce serious medical conditions and health consequences for persons who smoke and those exposed to tobacco smoke too.
It is no longer news that about 168 countries including Nigeria are signatories or parties to the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). While Nigeria is yet to fully domesticate the FCTC, South Africa, a fellow African country has one of the most comprehensive tobacco control policies in the world; the question on everyone’s heart is why the Nigeria policy makers are still delaying in passing this crucial and lifesaving bill into law.
“If Nigeria passes the law, it has instant implications both for the country as well as the African continent. As we have seen huge success & significant steps in this regard across Latin America where huge progress has been made on tobacco control, we know it is possible to replicate such here.
The time to act is NOW not later, as a stitch in time saves nine or so we were taught. Nigerians deserve to live in a country where we can breathe fresh air and not toxic chemicals that are harmful to the body.
Join us in making this strong appeal for the National Assembly to call for public hearing regarding this pressing issue, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like our post, drop your comments and share widely with others. Let’s help make Nigeria a SMOKE-FREE zone TODAY!
You should also actively participate in TC discussions on the following social media platforms:
- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl
- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl
- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle
- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl
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