tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242491012024-03-13T14:23:53.359-07:00My ThotsMy Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-17386721155302252872016-05-19T02:55:00.002-07:002016-05-19T02:55:25.539-07:00Oil production in Lagos State: Road to increased income or resource curse?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2016/05/PIX-8062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2016/05/PIX-8062.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Premium Times</span></div>
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It was with
mixed feelings that I welcomed the news of Lagos becoming an official oil
producing state. According to the news report which was widely published across
Nigeria’s print media, the new find in Lagos will enable contribution of at
least 12,000 barrels per day to the country’s current more than 1million
barrels per day output level (having given allowance for expected and
unexpected decline in production) resulting in about 1% of crude oil that will
be made available for sale to refineries within and outside Nigeria. Being
aware of the total installed capacity of our four refineries, which is 445,000
barrel per day, one is left to reason that most of the oil extracted will end
up outside the reach of this country.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One thing is
however certain with the exportation of crude oil outside the shores of the
country, and that is the receipt of petrodollars. It will be important to ask
the question - how will Lagos fare in the event of securing access to
petrodollars, be it in state allocation from federation accounts or direct
payments? There is certainly an obvious answer to this question. Of course,
Lagos will have increased income and as we always say, available funds to
embark on development projects. If we however, consider the question based on hindsight
from Nigeria’s experience with petrodollars since oil was discovered in
Oloibiri in 1956, the more likely response to question will be contrary to the
readily conceivable reply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Associated with
petrodollars is also the dreadful resource curse. The resource curse theory posits
that countries that collect rents from exploration and sale of natural resources
do not fare well in terms of real economic growth unlike other countries
without natural resources. Again, of course there are examples of countries
that have escaped the resource curse. Norway is a shining star of what a
country can derive from accrued oil rents and the United Arab Emirates is
another fledgling example. A key characteristic of an oil-based economy, and
one of the factors that lead to the resource curse, is the dwindling cognizance
of residents living within the oil producing jurisdiction. With the land laws
awarding supremacy to governments; manning of oil production by transnational
corporations and; receipt of petrodollars by governments, what use then will be
of citizens, who, combined together might have annual earnings representing a minuscule
fraction of government’s monthly petrodollars? What use will there be to
institute a working tax system and invest in human and material capital
necessary to make it efficient? This is the bane of oil dependence.
Petrodollars has the likelihood of breeding a government that has no need of
its people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The question can
be posed again, how will Lagos fare? If we decide to consider this from the
perspective of the people of Lagos and not the account books of Lagos, we can
know that there is danger looming. However, from the examples of countries that
have escaped the resource curse, we also know that the danger is not imminent,
but can be averted. What can the government and good people of Lagos do to
prevent heading in the direction of slow economic growth like that of other
Nigerian oil-producing states? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Firstly, it
needs to strengthen its tax collection apparatus. This step will aid a
rights-based approach to development of the state by ensuring residents feel
connected to the state’s spending and will not feel out of place to demand
their rights. Secondly, residents need to ‘follow the money’ and keep the
government on its toes. Withdrawals and expenditures should be duly accounted
for and funds earmarked for capital expenditures should be expended on the said
projects. Thirdly, the government needs to prevent an attitude of rent-seeking (a.k.a
sharing the state cake) that may lead to businessmen and women abandoning their
thriving ventures. Finally, the government must invest heavily in development capacity
of Lagosians in oil extraction and other attendant disciplines. It should also
set a timeline for achieving technological expertise in oil exploration and
refinery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To end this
article, I will draw from a Yoruba saying that, in a way describes what happens
in an oil dependent economy that receive rents and is heavily reliant on
transnational corporations for oil extraction - owo ti a s’ise fun ni a ma na
n'ina kuna – i.e. it is the money we have not worked for that we spend anyhow.
Let the government and good people of Lagos therefore not desist from working
in order to make earnings and if Lagos state is to fare well from oil earnings, it
needs to ensure that the people engaged in oil-related jobs within the state, are dominantly
Lagosians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-36618536657872072902014-05-29T05:05:00.000-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.713-07:00Let your voice be heard: Sign the Petition!!! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7DgjILMPMk/U6GBWj2LHrI/AAAAAAAAAdY/cEGEe93B4Gk/s1600/tcbill_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7DgjILMPMk/U6GBWj2LHrI/AAAAAAAAAdY/cEGEe93B4Gk/s1600/tcbill_4.png" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It has
been established that some of the debilitating effects of smoking include lung
cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and
emphysema), stroke, ischaemic heart disease and impotence. It is also known
that smoking is the single most preventable cause of mortality across the world. To further buttress this point, we’d like to just punch out the numbers again –</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">The projected number of tobacco-related deaths over this
century is <b>One Billion</b></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Globally, it is estimated that there are currently <b>4 million</b> tobacco attributable deaths
each year, with current trends driving a rise to <b>10 million</b> deaths per year by the 2030s</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Approximately <b>3,000</b>
lung cancer deaths are known<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> to occur annually among
adult nonsmokers as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS)</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4.7 million</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;"> Nigerian adults aged 15
years or older use tobacco products and are therefore prone to tobacco-related
deaths</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /><!--[if !supportLists]--></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />It
is important to note that since the commencement of anti-smoking campaign in the
USA in 1964, more than </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8 million lives
have been saved</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> which is an indication of the effectiveness of anti-smoking
campaigns. In addition to this, the countries that have domesticated the WHO’s Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) have been experiencing significant
reduction in the prevalence of smoking in their countries. A major example is
Ireland where there was </span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">33% reduction in
smoking prevalence in one year</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> as a result of immense public support and high
level of compliance for the tobacco control law.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At
the moment, an executive-sponsored bill on Tobacco Control has been forwarded
to the National Assembly and there are also two different bills before the
National Assembly sponsored by Senator
Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu. We can say that without a doubt
Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from the enactment of a FCTC-compliant
National Tobacco Control law and it behooves us as patriotic citizens of Nigeria to call on
members of the National Assembly to ensure relevant processes are put in place
for speedy passage of a FCTC-compliant Tobacco Control bill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We
will like to therefore implore you to kindly add you voice to the call for
speedy passage of the bill by signing the petition on this link – http://tobaccoctrl.ng/pass-national-tobacco-control-bill-ntcb-now/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You
can also support the Tobaccoctrl campaign by visiting our Facebook page, like
our post, drop your comments and share the posts widely with your friends. Let’s
help make Nigeria a SMOKE-FREE country TODAY! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-42145419596810978692014-05-22T04:55:00.000-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.718-07:00We can’t wait any longer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwHZ_eOSGTg/U6GBGpAIGzI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/M790S7FgdrM/s1600/tcbill_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwHZ_eOSGTg/U6GBGpAIGzI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/M790S7FgdrM/s1600/tcbill_2.png" height="200" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Isn’t it ironic that funds raised
yearly on tobacco control is below $400 million compared to $18 billion for
AIDS, $2.5 billion for tuberculosis and around $2 billion for malaria. As a
result, while there has been a gradual decrease in the incidence of AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria, tobacco-related deaths have been on a sharp increase.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control) is a truce with an overall aim of protecting present and future
generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic
effect of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. It can also
substantially reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco
smoke. The domestication of the WHO FCTC by most developed countries has
translated to marked reduction in tobacco consumption and less exposure to
secondhand smoke in these countries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">More than 8 million lives have been saved
since the anti-smoking campaign started in 1964 in the U.S. Despite not adding
the figures from other countries, we can say this is a huge number. We should
also note that although the number of smokers recorded nationwide especially in
Bangladesh, Russia, Indonesia and China rose to 1billion, this amount could
have been doubled without the anti-smoking campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With reduction in the number of smokers in
countries with stringent tobacco laws, its effect was the migration of tobacco
companies to developing countries where such laws where neither existent or
were poorly enforced as a likely result of ease in bribing and influencing the
decisions of policy makers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">While many developed countries enjoy
their freedom to breathe in non-tobacco tainted air in public places, it is
distressing to know that the number of people who smoke in developing countries
like Nigeria and other low and middle-income countries has increased over time.
This trend has therefore led to an offset in the progress made in countries
such as the U.S., Canada, Iceland and Mexico where smoking prevalence has
decreased by nearly 50 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the overall number of smokers
worldwide is still rising, it is imperative that all countries implement
tobacco control measures to curb the terrible toll of tobacco-related illness
and death. We therefore urge all Nigerians to join us </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in making a strong appeal to the
National Assembly to pass the National Tobacco Control Bill by signing the
petition at this link- </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>http://tobaccoctrl.ng/pass-national-tobacco-control-bill-ntcb-now/</u></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We also implore you to plan to attend
public hearings that will be called by the National Assembly as part of the
process of passing the bill and you can follow us on twitter, add your voice by
visiting our facebook page, like our post, drop your comments and share the
post widely with your family and friends. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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add Tobaccoctrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-34193395184479398222014-05-16T13:22:00.004-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.703-07:00It is Better Now than Later<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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“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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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You should also actively participate in TC discussions on the following social media platforms:</div>
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- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</div>
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- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</div>
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- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</div>
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- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-70196547410138955152014-05-09T10:36:00.001-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.759-07:00Calling for Public Hearing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As time ticks & the clock winds down for the seventh session of
Nigeria’s National Assembly, the country faces a critical moment. Once
more, Nigeria is on the brink of passing the National Tobacco Control
Bill: a ground-breaking measure that could save the lives of millions of
Nigerian youth over the coming decades from tobacco-related disease and
death.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="cboxElement" data-lightboxplus="lightbox[1200]" href="http://tobaccoctrl.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PassTCBill_D2.png" title="PassTCBill_D2"><img alt="PassTCBill_D2" class="alignnone wp-image-1201" src="http://tobaccoctrl.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PassTCBill_D2-300x214.png" height="357" width="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While applauding the Lagos state house of Assembly for the passage of
Tobacco Control bill, banning smoking in public places in the state, we
are therefore soliciting the same speedy feat to be repeated at the
federal level where the National TC Bill is yet to be given the
requisite attention and pride of place. It is time for the lawmakers at
the national level to prioritize the health and wellness of the citizens
by speeding up work on the bill to make it a law</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The solution is clear. If passed, Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control
Bill would protect millions of Nigerian youth from this devastating
fate. Its provisions contain proven measures that will bring Nigeria in
line with many of its international obligations under the World Health
Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, also known as
the global tobacco treaty, which has the potential to save 200 million
lives when fully implemented.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two key elements of the proposed Tobacco Control Bill affects supply
& demand as an increase in the price of tobacco packs will make it
difficult for the underaged to purchase it while making public places
NO-SMOKING zones will make people reduce number of sticks they smoke
since they can’t smoke everywhere.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We call for an urgent public hearing on this issue to debate the
matter at both the upper & lower chambers of the National to promote
the safety and health of our citizens. To join us in making this strong
appeal for the National Assembly to pass this bill, 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!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You should also actively participate in the discussions presently ongoing on the following social media platforms:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-60620921662981463022014-05-02T05:38:00.002-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.746-07:00Fighting for a Billion Lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></strong>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN-US">ONE BILLION</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> – this
is the number of innocent souls tobacco will kill worldwide this century if
urgent and drastic action is not put in place to stop this dilemma. Everyone
knows by now that it is one of the most easily preventable causes of death, and
yet some leaders and citizens will prefer to fold their hands and do nothing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the United States alone, tobacco kills 443,000 people
every year. Such huge numbers can seem daunting and farfetched but we should
never lose sight of the fact that these numbers represent real people whose
lives are devastated by tobacco –mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends
and colleagues. We should not also forget that most of these smokers picked up
this horrible habit at a very young and vulnerable age, lured by the predatory
marketing of the tobacco industry. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is no questioning whether Nigerians have awaken
to challenge this situation and aim to win the fight against tobacco – the
world’s number one cause of preventable death. A notable success in this regard
is the approval of the draft National Tobacco Control Bill by the National
Executive Council and submission to the National Assembly but we cannot rest on
our oars and take this progress for granted. We must be as relentless and
resourceful in working to save lives as the tobacco industry is in promoting
its deadly and addictive products. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cigarettes are not just the world’s
number one cause of preventable death; they’re also a major cause of air, land
and water pollution. In fact, butts are the number one littered item on
highways, beaches and waterways worldwide. Cigarettes kill and secondhand smoke
produces harmful air pollution. Despite the clear environmental damage
cigarettes cause, some tobacco companies advertise their cigarettes as
“natural,” “100% additive-free,” “organic” and even “eco-friendly.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Nigeria once again has the
opportunity to stand up to Big Tobacco and make sure that corporate interests
don’t trump the health of its people. It’s time for members of the National
Assembly to re-evaluate their priorities. Do they want to be on the side
of an industry that lies to the public and promotes a product that kills? If they
are truly committed to saving lives and representing the interests of the
public, they must not only reject any form of comradeship with Big Tobacco but
must also support the swift passage of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Bill
and vote overwhelmingly in its favor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Our lawmakers should not be
lured by the corporate social responsibility schemes of the tobacco industry
which they so often use to gloss over the industry’s tarnished reputation
and undermine public health policymaking. Lawsuits filed in the United States
in the 1990s had revealed that Big Tobacco lied to the public, manipulated policy,
bullied governments around the world in order to protect its profits and paid
executives and PR firms to develop a strategy to distract the public from the
industry’s history of deception. Lawmakers should not be swayed by this ‘show
of corporate responsibility’ but ask themselves if a company that manufactures
a product that will kill one billion people in this century should be
considered responsible and assured a limitedly restrictive environment to
operate in Nigeria.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To
support the campaign for passage of a comprehensive National Tobacco Control
bill, you can</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">join Fela Durotoye and Stella Damasus to share information
on Tobacco Control issues by signing up to become a cause champion. Together we
can protect the present and future generations from this preventable death. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To
become a cause champion, simply send your 1) Name 2) Email 3) Telephone No and
4) your location to </span><a href="mailto:info@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">info@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org</a></div>
<br /><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl on Twitter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">-
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-16117380450734474202014-04-25T03:14:00.000-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.675-07:00WANTED: A Tobacco Control Bill in Nigeria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">A look through government and
law-making since 1999 shows a number of battles fought over time to get proper
legislation in place on a diverse range of issues such as the EFCC Act, NAFDAC
Act, FOI Bill to mention a few.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The most recent law that took
quite a while to enact we would like to review is the Freedom of Information
(FOI) Act. The aim of this law was to empower Nigerians to serve as
whistleblowers while also opening up the opaque processes that shrouded issues
of national interest in a domain outside of accountability & transparency.
In the cause of getting an FOI, there were ups & downs with campaigners
experiencing defeat snatched from the jaws of victory as in 2007 after many
years, a failure to secure Presidential seal meant the bill passed by the
National Assembly did not become law.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">A quick research shows that
since 1999, the bulk of successfully enacted legislation were bills either
sponsored by the Executive arm of government or bills with strong executive
interest. Whether this is because an executive interest in a bill gives it needed
political capital or it fires up the legislative arm to speed up consideration
of this bills is another matter but suffice to say, the job seems to get done
more often than not.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is in light of this, that one
might consider developments regarding tobacco control legislation in Nigeria a
two-edged sword as last month, March 2014, the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
approved that a draft bill on tobacco control be passed onto the National
Assembly for their consideration.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">While this follows a trend with
strong batting averages when it comes to bills successfully becoming law, it
increases the number of bills currently under consideration by the National
Assembly on the critical issue of Tobacco Control (TC) legislation as in
particular, the House of Representatives has been moving consistently
concerning the draft bill sponsored by one of its own, Hon. Yacoob
Bush-Alebiosu. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">This means that on the single
issue of tobacco control, there is a critical need to get all draft bills in
the National Assembly harmonized ASAP as with a plethora of committee sittings,
public hearings & plenary session needed to take place at both the Senate
and House of Representatives, time is the essential factor here that we do not
have an endless supply of. This will ensure there is no duplication of effort
in passing through all the required steps in our bill-making process. Also, it
is critical to ensure that none of the draft bills becomes a stumbling block to
the others as failure to get any of them successfully through the loops may
mean major challenges to a TC Bill being enacted without hassles.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">It might be time & resource saving
to consider incorporating strengths of each of the draft bills into ONE
harmonized version that will then be considered by both the Senate & House
of Representatives going through all the required loops. Taking this route is a
more strategic approach to delivering in a TIMELY manner a much needed &
wanted law for Nigerians.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">In other news <br />TC SELFIE PHOTO CONTEST: 7days
to go</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am sure you are aware but just
in case for some reason, you have not turned in yours yet, this is a REMINDER.
There is an ongoing 'selfie' photo contest for our project. Please check the
project website (www.tobaccoctrl.ng) for full details.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">BECOME A CAUSE CHAMPION!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Join Fela Durotoye and Stella
Damasus to share information on Tobacco Control to ensure a comprehensive
Tobacco control law is passed and signed into law by signing up to become a
cause champion. Together we can protect present and future generations from
this preventable death now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To become a cause champion, simply
sign up by sending your 1) Name 2) Email 3) Telephone No and 4) your location
to </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:toinfo@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">info @ socialresponsibilitymanagers.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl on Twitter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">-
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">-
For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-78261776828507498872014-04-18T03:41:00.003-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.774-07:00Let the change begin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tobaccoctrl.ng/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBpDr6QPOng/U1EBLcL9I-I/AAAAAAAAAas/bm-3G-hOZEo/s1600/twitter-profile-april1.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Across Africa, the Tobacco
Control campaign is gaining ground with the recent passage of bills in Senegal &
Ghana that is aimed at protecting citizens and significantly reducing the
smoking menace. However, opponents of these efforts have employed delay tactics
to curtail the progress of the passage of Tobacco control bills in some of the
African countries like Zambia and Malawi, where the action on smoking and its health
implications has competed for attention with other issues. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The goal is to ensure this does
not happen in Nigeria as the enforcement of meaningful tobacco control
legislation not only solidify locally our agreement with the FCTC but also
ensures we are better placed to benefit millions of lives affected directly
& indirectly by a lifestyle choice with grave consequences for all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">We must be willing to follow
examples of like Ukraine that banned tobacco corporate social
responsibility initiatives and adopted other tobacco control measures
witnessing smoking rates country-wide take a nosedive. In a survey, the
Ukrainian government found the national smoking rate during the period between
January and September 2013 was 15 percent lower than the same period in 2012.
Now, that’s a huge drop in one year and effectively thousands of lives were
saved. Nigeria must adopt these measures if she wants the lives of her citizens
preserved and even our children unborn. These evidence-based policies are
supported by a critical provision of the FCTC – Article 5.3 – which states that
the tobacco industry has an irreconcilable conflict with public health. </span>The guidelines to FCTC
implementation recommend government officials reject real and perceived
partnerships with the tobacco industry and ban on tobacco industry corporate
social responsibility.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Let’s not allow history to
repeat itself and allow anything distract us from the task at hand. With the
fate of thousands of young Nigerians at stake, the time to act is now. Just as
neighboring countries like Ghana have implemented tobacco controls that are the
first step in saving their youth, we urge Nigeria’s Parliamentarians and
policymakers to step up and follow suit. Do not fall prey to misleading tactics
by the Tobacco Industry and derail Nigeria’s most critical opportunity to save
the lives of its people. It’s time to pass the National Tobacco Control
Bill.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Within the next two weeks, there
will be a public hearing on the draft of the tobacco control bill by The House
of Representatives. We will be publishing WIDELY the full details of the
hearing when released and urge you to PARTICIPATE in this by marking the date
in your calendar and planning to attend so YOUR VOICE is added to the swelling
number of citizens calling for a TC bill NOW. We implore you to please share
the date with your friend & family too so they can LEND their VOICE as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Join Fela Durotoye and Stella
Damasus to share information on Tobacco Control to ensure a comprehensive
Tobacco control law is passed and signed into law by signing up to become a
cause champion. Together we can protect present and future generations from
this preventable death now. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To become a cause champion, Simply
sign up by sending your 1) Name 2) Email 3) Telephone No and 4) your location
to </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:toinfo@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">info@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl on Twitter <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">-
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">PS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
We would like to wish everyone a wonderful Easter holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-90820765450958909932014-04-12T01:59:00.000-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.789-07:00Lets Make The Change Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tobaccoctrl.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/facebook-cover-pic-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tobaccoctrl.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/facebook-cover-pic-2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As we approach 2015 with the end of the seventh session of Nigeria’s National Assembly in sight, the country lies at a unique crossroad facing a critical moment. A number of draft bills are undergoing deliberations & discussions that would hopefully be completed before the end of this session.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One of these bills at the verge of being passed into law is the National Tobacco Control Bill: a groundbreaking measure that could save the lives of millions of young Nigerians most especially children and pregnant women, over the coming decades from tobacco-related disease and death.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The bill, currently awaiting passage by the Senate and House of Assembly, contains critical provisions including smoke-free public spaces, graphic health warnings and a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Nigeria once again has the opportunity to show in clear terms the health & wellbeing of her people is paramount. It’s time for Nigerian policymakers to re-evaluate their priorities and match their words with action as duly elected representatives of all Nigerians. For the swift passage of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Bill will demonstrate Nigerian policymakers are truly committed to saving lives and representing the interests of the public.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If passed, Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Bill would protect millions of young Nigerians from the devastating fate a lifestyle of smoking and/or exposure to cigarette fumes will have on their health. Its provisions contain proven measures that will bring Nigeria in line with many of its international obligations under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, also known as the global tobacco treaty, which has the potential to save 200 million lives when fully implemented. With these figures, the need for the TC bill is reinforced and we hope that our lawmakers would expedite the bill-making process securing passage of the bill seeing the effect it will have to the general public who are their constituents.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is time for us as a Nation to stand our ground on this issue, we must put heads together towards ensuring that the lawmakers does what is right, even if it’s not for us right now, but for our unborn children, we must ensure that Nigeria is the cleanest and safest place to live in.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The House of Representatives will announce shortly the date for a public hearing on the draft Tobacco Control bill before it. We will be publishing WIDELY the full details of the hearing when released and urge you to PARTICIPATE in this by marking the date in your calendar and planning to attend so YOUR VOICE is added to the swelling number of citizens calling for a TC bill NOW. Please share the date with your friend & family too so they can LEND their VOICE as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Join Fela Durotoye and Stella Damasus to share information on Tobacco Control to ensure a comprehensive Tobacco control law is passed and signed into law by signing up to become a cause champion. Together we can protect the present and future generations from this preventable death now.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Roboto Slab', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To become a cause champion, Simply sign up by sending your 1) Name 2) Email 3) Telephone No and 4) your location to<a href="mailto:info@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org" style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">info@socialresponsibilitymanagers.org</a></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-89343585331786271792014-04-02T02:24:00.001-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.785-07:00Current Happenings on the Tobacco Control Bill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" height="133" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">A major deficit to the
regulation of tobacco in Nigeria is the inefficiency or lack of legislation. Different bills have been raised in both the Senate and the
House of Representatives but unfortunately, they have not been successfully passed into law. There are
currently two tobacco bills waiting to be enacted; a 2012 bill sponsored in the
Senate by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and a more <a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/house-seeks-review-of-tobacco-control-bill/146600/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">recent 2013
bill</span></a> raised in the House of Representatives, sponsored by Hon.
Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">However, at the 6th session of
the National Assembly which lasted between 2007 to 2011, the National Tobacco
Control Bill, was formally presented & finally approved by the Senate for
passage at its seating on Tuesday March 15th 2011. This happened twenty five
(25) months after its initial presentation to the Senate and was a monumental
victory for Nigerians, both young and old, especially minors, public health,
tobacco control in Nigeria and for the Coalition Against Tobacco (CAT), which
was instrumental to the initiation, creation, drafting, lobbying and followed
through this bill from the various plenary sessions debating the bill to
the public hearing and eventual approval for passage by both the upper & lower chambers of the National Assembly (NA).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">CAT’s January 2008 Abuja
inauguration, served as the platform for Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar (then Minister
of the FCT) to announce the declaration making the FCT smoke-free, effective
June 2008. He at the event also sought the support and cooperation of the
legislative arm of government, which was represented at the event by Senator
Mamora (Sponsor of the tobacco bill and current Deputy Chief whip of the
Senate) to enact and push for an effective bill regulating the tobacco
industry’s’ excesses. Senator Mamora gave his assurances for the expedient
passage of the bill, which we are today celebrating. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Bill’s essential components include:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A National Tobacco
Control (TC) Committee to guide implementation and future TC policies;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A comprehensive ban of smoking
in public places; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clearly visible tax stamps on
cigarette packs; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A ban on sales to minors and by
minors;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prohibition of the sale of
cigarettes that are not packaged – but the bill doesn’t specify the number
per pack; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A comprehensive ban on
advertising, sponsorship and promotion, including by mail, testimonials,
brand stretching, indirect advertising, etc;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Health warnings covering 50
percent of the display area of tobacco packages, with the Minister of
Health empowered to prescribe pictures or pictogram; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enforcement provisions to
ensure that the law is effectively implemented. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately the journey was truncated, as our bill-making process requires action both from the
National Assembly (NA) first in discussing and passing a bill. And thereafter,
the executive arm of government i.e. the President fulfills its part by giving
assent to the bill passed by the NA for such to become law in the land. Because
we did not cross these two hurdles back in 2011, we are at the starting blocks
AGAIN on a journey to a tobacco control bill before the current NA session ends
in 2015.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Knowing previous work that has
gone into this without crossing the finishing line and sustained efforts since 2012, this time, the goal is to ensure BOTH
legislative & executive arms of government do their part and fulfill their
given roles as custodians of the people's mandate who work for a safe
environment for all Nigerians.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Therefore, we are mobilizing
efforts and intensifying our drive in the attainment of a smoke-free Nigeria
NOW. Towards the end of April 2014, the House of Representatives will call for
a public hearing to discuss the current bill before it and we URGE you to
ATTEND as well as PARTICIPATE in these process by giving feedback directly to
your representative and/or also lending your VOICE as YOU join us in the TC
RADIO CAMPAIGN and INVITE your FRIENDS & FAMILY to do the same by subscribing
via sms. Text (TC Name Email Location Message) to 39405 as together we
can make the change we desire.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl
on Twitter and tweet at us using the
#TCRadio hashtag</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">• For more facts and Tobacco
Control tips please visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-90197374803794096902014-03-26T12:47:00.001-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.787-07:00Do something!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" height="133" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I finished my youth service a few years
ago and it has been difficult getting a job. Out of frustration and tiredness
of staying at home, I took up a job as a bar attendant at a local hotel.
However, since I started work, it’s been hell for me as I end
up inhaling cigarette smoke every day since customers are permitted to smoke
indoors. Well, I have always done my best to ignore it and say nothing about it
because I work at night and I am there alone with just one other person.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It has gotten to the point now, that
the employees that work the shift before I do smoke right before I get there. I
have frequent migraines and sinus issues from all of the residue that has been
left behind from them smoking and often times some residual smoke from them
smoking.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">There is a window right in that section
and I have asked them repeatedly to please not smoke an hour before I am going
to get there and to please leave the window open when they do smoke and to open
the window up and air out the corner before I get there. Seems like a simple
enough request but they simply will not do it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Now I am experiencing numerous health
consequences of breathing second hand smoke, including headaches, nausea,
dizziness, increased asthma, bronchitis, larengal-pharengeal reflux and
reactive airway. Not to mention the fact that the place just plain reeks! I am
outraged that by virtue of earning a living I am forced to breath "class
A" carcinogenic air. I have pleaded with the corporate office, provided
them overwhelming evidence that my work environment is not safe and they have
turned a blind eye. Leaving this job will mean me going back to being broke,
bored and frustrated, I do hope that I get something else real fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Andy's (not his real
name) story above is a picture of what the workplace can be like Abuja where he is based. As deploring as his story may be, the more
shocking fact is that this is a preventable cause. Things do not have to get to
a dilapidated stage before we do something about it. I therefore appeal to
the general public to join in this campaign to ban smoking in Nigeria. With the
Lagos State government recently passing a no-smoking in public places law,
it is time for the rest of the states to follow suit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Together we can make impact in our
generation and save more lives, All you need do is to PARTICIPATE in the TC
RADIO CAMPAIGN and INVITE your FRIENDS & FAMILY to do the same as we all
join hands in stopping this dilemma before it's too late. To subscribe: Text
(TC Name Email Location Message) to 39405 as together we can make the change we
desire. You will be shocked how many lives you can save just from this singular
act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl on
Twitter and tweet at us using #TCRadio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">- Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">· For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-4729917922616238822014-03-20T05:49:00.000-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.721-07:00Don't wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/YUXKF_cAW7A/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" height="132" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up in a house of three kids and
two smoking parents (chain smokers if I say so). My father smoked two packs
a day and my mother smoked one pack a day. I am currently 39 years old and my
mother recently passed away at 67 after a long battle with breast cancer, I am
yet to recover from this massive loss. She also had thyroid cancer. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There had
been absolutely NO history of breast cancer on her side of the family until she
contracted the disease in her fifties, had surgery and chemo, went into remission,
and then was rediagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in her liver. My sister,
at age 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer the October before my mother's
recurrence. She became metastatic within a year and is now 41 years old with
three children. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result, I have had a preventative double mastectomy and I
believe all of this loss in my immediate family is due to smoking exposure.
There is some history on my father's side, however, it does not explain my
mother's aggressive disease and premature death. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As it stands, I will go
through the horrific events cancer brings again (this time with my sister) and
will be the only female left in my immediate family. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My father, at age 75,
and my brother, at age 36, and myself will be left without two fabulous women
in our lives. I believe smoking and the tobacco industry either created the
cancer outright or aggravated a gene in our family as research has suggested.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without tobacco, my
family would have much more time with my sister and my mother. My children would
have gotten to know their grandmother better and wouldn't cry and wouldn't have
to talk about missing her. I wouldn't have to worry about my sister's kids and
neither would she. Please help stop the tobacco industry from destroying
families.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than 8
million lives has been saved since the anti-smoking campaign started in 1964 in
US, not counting the effect it has had in other countries; now this is a huge
number, although the number of smokers recorded nationwide especially in
Bangladesh, Russia, Indonesia and China rose to 1billion, it could have been
double this number if the anti-smoking campaign dint take place. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In as much as
these figures are encouraging, it is also not the time to relax and fold our
hands, more work needs to be done to ensure that more lives are saved. We
therefore need your contribution towards ensuring that the increasing rate of
death caused by this preventable cause is brought to a halt.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All you need do is to PARTICIPATE</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in the <b>TC</b> <b>RADIO
CAMPAIGN</b> and <b>INVITE</b> your <b>FRIENDS & FAMILY</b> to do the same
as we all join hands in stopping this dilemma before it's too late. To
subscrib<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>e: <b>Text (TC Name Email Location Message)
to 39405 </b>as together we can make the change we desire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>-
Twitter</b>: Follow @TobaccoCtrl on Twitter and tweet at us using the
#TCRadio hashtag<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-
Like us on <b>Facebook</b>: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">·
For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-59518647344547570872014-03-12T11:57:00.001-07:002016-07-05T23:40:12.743-07:00PARTICIPATE: Tobacco Control Radio Campaign<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/In2RTlu395M/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvCKAaETAXE/UyCn_-gD3iI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/In2RTlu395M/s1600/TOBACCO+CRTL+MARCH+2.jpg" height="131" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Until late in the 20th century, tobacco companies consistently denied any link of their products with cancer or cancer-enhancing tendencies. However, today, the harmful effect of tobacco on smokers and non-smokers alike is well-known with detailed documentation on the impact of secondhand smoke since the 1980's.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Into these category of non-smokers falls a group of people who need SOMEONE to speak for them - CHILDREN as statistics say seco<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ndhand
smoke causes about 3,000 deaths from lung cancer and tens of thousands of
deaths from </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/heart/Pages/Heart-Disease.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">heart
disease</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> to
nonsmoking adults in Nigeria each year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Millions of children are breathing
in secondhand smoke almost daily in the one place they should be safe - their </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/tobacco/Pages/Importance-of-Smoke-Free-Homes-and-Cars.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">homes</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. The reason for these is adults & in some cases underaged smokers who puff away not heeding the harm being done to our nation's future leaders. Secondhand smoke can be especially
harmful to your children's health because their lungs still are developing. If
you and anyone who know & permit smokes around your children, they are exposed to secondhand smoke and may be in more danger than you realize. Children whose parents
smoke only outside are still exposed to the chemicals in secondhand smoke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Below is a true life story of the effect
secondhand smoke can have on a child;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>My ex-husband and I divorced when
our son was 1 year old. At that time, smoking was not allowed in our home and
my son's health was fine. Once we divorced, his father resumed smoking and
that's when the trouble with my son's ears started. My son is 3 years old now
and on his second set of ear tubes and has had his annoides removed. My son
gets sick whenever he goes to his dad's- he always comes back with ear
infections. (Besides his dad who smokes, there are also 3 other people living
in the home who smoke too) My son has mild hearing loss in the left ear. I know
it is the smoking. The solid proof that proved it, was this past October. Oct.
23 my son had a hearing test and the tubes were open and clear, then on
November 2nd he went to his dad's for a week. On Nov. 13 was his next hearing
test and it came back saying that both ears were flat and his next test said he
had fluid in his ears again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because young children can't choose
to leave a smoke-filled environment, this constant exposure makes them
especially vulnerable to the health risks of secondhand smoke. Infants and
children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance
of developing the following conditions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Frequent colds and respiratory
infections (including bronchitis and pneumonia) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">May experience slow or
incomplete lung growth and development <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asthma and chronic coughs <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chronic and/or recurrent ear
infections <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIDS (Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">High blood pressure <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learning and behavior problems,
including inattention and aggression. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cataracts <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Poor dental health <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Increased likelihood that the
children themselves will become smokers <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As adults today, it is <b>OUR RESPONSIBILITY</b> to ensure a smoke-free environment is a <b>LEGACY</b> we bequeath to our children. This is why we ask <b>YOU</b> to participate in the <b>TC</b> <b>RADIO CAMPAIGN</b> and <b>INVITE</b> your <b>FRIENDS & FAMILY</b> to do the same as we all join hands in stopping this dilemma before it's too late. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">To subscribe: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Text (TC Name Email Location Message) to 39405 </b>as t</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">ogether we can make the change we desire.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">- Twitter: <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Follow @TobaccoCtrl on Twitter and tweet at us using the #TCRadio hashtag</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">- Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">· For more facts and Tobacco Control tips visit www.tobaccoctrl.ng</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-63672501659003211422014-03-05T09:13:00.000-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.748-07:00No More!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1UFwY5PuDw/Uxdan6LKEDI/AAAAAAAAAZU/ccK5cJjAaKY/s1600/No_More_Sign_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1UFwY5PuDw/Uxdan6LKEDI/AAAAAAAAAZU/ccK5cJjAaKY/s1600/No_More_Sign_2.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On 26 December 2003
my dad passed away due to a 13 year battle with COPD/Emphysema. My dad had
smoked since he had been a young boy, but quit immediately when he was
diagnosed with COPD. Unfortunately it was too late and his lungs were already
damaged. I grew up breathing in secondhand smoke, but at the time, there was
not information out discussing the dangers of secondhand smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I am
in my mid 40's. Everyone smoked either cigarettes, cigars or pipes when I was
young. My dad smoked pipes and cigars all day long, inside and outdoors. One
was burning all the time even when he wasn't puffing on it. Our house smelled
like smoke - and our car smelled like smoke. People's clothes smelled like
smoke - even the ones who didn't smoke smelled like smoke. People smoked at
work and in restaurants and in the waiting rooms of almost everywhere. So it
was normal to smell smoke. We thought nothing of it. I even sang along with
them on this popular song:</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">"SMOKE
SMOKE SMOKE THAT CIGARETTE - PUFF PUFF PUFF UNTIL YOU PUFF YOURSELF TO DEATH.
THEN TELL PETER AT THE GOLDEN GATE THAT HE WILL HAVE TO WAIT - CAUSE YOU GOTTA
HAVE ANOTHER CIGARETTE." </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">And it
still didn't dawn on us what we were doing. </span>Smoking
was thought to be glamorous for women and masculine for men because of the movies
and the advertising. All my older siblings smoked. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What happened to everyone? My
mother died of lung cancer (though she never smoked anything but due to the
inhaling of cigarette from everyone’s smoking.) My brother died of a heart
attack. My sister died of lung disease. My last sister has emphysema & is
on oxygen but wasting away - now weighs 65 pounds.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I
would have to say smoking leads to nothing constructive for anyone except for a
pain relief puff on a marajuana when dying of cancer. </span>My
dying sister told me the other day that smoking is the worst possible addiction
anyone could imagine. She says you are hooked almost instantly and no rational
discussion could make you quit. She only quit when she couldn't breathe. But
she said she knows of lots of people who can't even quit when the doctor puts
them on oxygen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There
is no rational reason to allow smoking where anyone other than smokers will
breathe that smoke. It is horrible. I have been with 2 of my relatives as they
have died of lung disease and it is a miserable way to go.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I implore you to participate and
subscribe to T<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>obaccoctrl SMS platform and also
participate actively in the radio campaign, don’t forget to invite your friends
and family. </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">To
subscribe;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Text
(TC Name Email Location Message) to 39405. Together we can make the change we
desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-
2go: add Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-66017229612684619242014-02-26T12:41:00.003-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.755-07:00The Nigerian Situation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pwN0NxUY1s/SXRRr-HBAQI/AAAAAAAAADY/1MEl_oktlig/s1600/Nigeria.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pwN0NxUY1s/SXRRr-HBAQI/AAAAAAAAADY/1MEl_oktlig/s1600/Nigeria.jpeg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Despite worldwide concerted efforts by
governments and other Non-State Actors, Nigeria remains amongst the community
of nations that have expressed concerns but done little to tackle or curb the
blooming epidemic of smoking. In Nigeria, the indulgent attitude of individuals
that smoke coupled with their ignorance of the potential dangers has not helped
situation. Most people smoke not knowing the implications of what they are
doing to their health and others around. This is not peculiar to just males,
but females as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">There was a time when it was a taboo for females to hold
cigarette not to talk of smoking them, but this days its becoming the norm with
female actresses smoking in our home videos thus glamorizing the habit and encouraging
more females to smoke. This is an antisocial act that calls for urgent action
as it negates the efforts of the governments and concerned peoples of Nigeria
to nip smoking in the bud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Smoking, a<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> habit,
which at one time was considered fashionable and acceptable has been proven
after many years of study to have linkages with many ailments hence it is as
deadly as the scorpion sting. Smoking is a universal problem, which though may
have peculiar geographical approaches in terms of solutions, yet remains one
with the need for a collective global resolve in tackling. To date, no nation
has ever admitted benefiting economically from smoking and we see numerous
efforts made by nations across the globe to deal with this man-made monster. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The United States Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as "the single most important
preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause
of premature death worldwide".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">For Nigeria, the implication of
unrestricted smoking environment is ominous as tobacco-related ailments take
about 20 years to manifest. Thus the government should anticipate a huge
epidemic of tobacco-related diseases in the coming years. The resultant strain
on public healthcare would be enormous as the majority of these smokers are
poor people who have no means to access treatment themselves. They will depend
on the government to bear the cost. The most effective way to curb this
epidemic is to totally ban it in all states of the federation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">To further reinforce this view, let us
consider the following facts about smoking:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">From the GAT Survey, Tobacco Use In 2012
saw 5.6% (4.7 million) Nigerian adults aged 15 years or older use tobacco
products with a breakdown of 10.0% (4.2 million) of men and 1.1% (0.5 million)
of women. Overall, 3.9% (3.1 million) of adults (7.3% of men and 0.4% of women)
currently smoked tobacco, and 3.7% (3.1 million) of adults (7.2% of men and
0.3% of women) currently smoked cigarettes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">2.9% of adults (2.4 million) were daily
smokers (5.6% of men, 0.3% of women) while 0.9% (0.8 million) were occasional
smokers (1.8% of men and 0.1% of women). Daily cigarette smokers smoked an
average of 8 cigarettes per day; 7 cigarettes per day in urban areas and 9
cigarettes per day in rural areas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">More than 60% of 20 to 34 year old males
who had ever smoked on a daily basis started smoking daily before the age of 20
years. More than half of all current daily tobacco users (55.3%) have their
first tobacco use of the day within 30 minutes of waking up. Smokeless tobacco
products were used by 1.9% of adults (1.6 million) (2.9% of men and 0.9% of
women). By region, South East has a higher percentage of smokeless tobacco
users compared to other regions in Nigeria.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The good news is that together we can stop
this epidemic from invading our territory. Join us in making this strong appeal
for the National Assembly to pass comprehensive tobacco control legislation
bill, follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like
our post, drop your comments and share widely with others. Together we can make
the change that we all desire.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your
circle</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-2056559800293496682014-02-19T02:55:00.000-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.683-07:00Stop Smoking!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3e1Gy0Esx4A/s1600/SHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3e1Gy0Esx4A/s1600/SHS.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Smoking-related
disease is snatching beloved family members and friends away from us at an
alarming rate. The diseases caused as a result of smoking is disheartening and the picture emerging is quite gloomy as recent reports state we are witnessing a global surge in cancer incidents with smoking as one of the three leading causes. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">According
to the World Health Organization, smoking related-diseases kill 1 in 10
adults globally, causing four million deaths a year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Below is a true life story told by a victim;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bob started
smoking when he was at the university. According to him, I started smoking
because my friends smoked and I wanted to fit in, I had just entered the University
and so wanted to make friends, little did I know that this was going to be the
beginning of a regrettable effect to my health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Bob lives in Nigeria and schooled at the
famous University in the eastern part of Nigeria ESUT (Enugu State University
of Science and Technology) where students would congregate regularly to smoke and will go
as far as stealing each other’s cigarettes just to satisfy their carvings. Bob
smoked for more than 15years, although he tried several times to stop. He would
quit smoking for a while and then find himself smoking again. Like he said, it was difficult to stop because I had my friends and some members of my
family smoking around me, so I would always find myself going back to my vomit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In 2013,
in his late thirties, Bob was diagnosed with a heart disease called Atherosclerosis,
a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up in your arteries,
this can also cause a breathing problem, Bob had to be flown to India for a
major operation and to receive some major treatment, Bod is another life we
could have lost to a preventable cause such as tobacco. No one had to convince
Bob to stop smoking; he has quit smoking and is proudly clean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You don’t
have to wait till your condition is worse for wear before quitting. It’s a known
fact that smoking kills. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most smokers
are not aware that tobacco contains chemicals which can harm their blood cells
and damage the function of their heart. This damage increases your risk for:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Atherosclerosis: a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up in your
arteries<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aneurysms: which are bulging blood vessels that can burst and cause death<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coronary
heart disease (CHD): which happens when plaque builds up in the arteries<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heart
attack and damage to your arteries<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heart
disease<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peripheral
arterial disease (PAD), a condition in which plaque builds up in the
arteries that carry blood to the head, organs, and limbs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stroke: which is sudden death of brain cells caused by blood clots or bleeding<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Breathing
tobacco smoke can even change your blood chemistry and damage your blood
vessels. As you inhale smoke, cells that line your body’s blood vessels react
to its chemicals. Your heart rate and blood pressure go up and your blood
vessels thicken and narrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Lets
prevent this dilemma from spreading more than it should, as together we can save
more lives. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Join us in making this strong appeal for the National
Assembly to pass comprehensive tobacco control legislation bill, follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting
our facebook page, like our post, drop your comments and share widely with
others. Together we can make the change that we all desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-49592669441542953292014-02-12T00:40:00.001-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.723-07:00Tonte died last night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="blue" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3e1Gy0Esx4A/s1600/SHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXg/3e1Gy0Esx4A/s1600/SHS.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="blue" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="blue" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The early morning phone call
message was short and direct: "Tonte died last night:" <br />
<br />
I have been a family physician for more than 50years now and taking night calls
has become a pattern for me, calls waking me up from sleep has become part of
my practice especially the tragic news such as telling me that; my special
patient is dying or has died. As sad as it sounds, one gets too familiar to
such conversation and should I say used to it after 50years. However the unique
circumstance of my early morning “Tonte Died Last night” call, stands out as
one of the most unexpected.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Who was Tonte? Who called me
with the death message? Why was it especially memorable?<br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Tonte was a dedicated bar
attendant in one of the popular lounges in Abuja, she was so dedicated and
hardworking. Unfortunately, the lounge owner who deeply respected Tonte,
“thought the world of her” but did not think highly enough about protecting her
health. He thought that smoking customers could not be denied opportunity to
pollute the indoor air for employees and other patrons. <br />
<br />
As a result Tonte as an employee sometimes choked up from breathing smoke. This
caused her to prop open the outside door to let smoke out and plead with her
smoking customers near the bar area to please move to the other side of the
room. Tonte, who couldn't afford to foot hospital bills, was simply issued a
bronchodilator inhaler by her bar supervisor and advised to take some extra
puffs on her inhaler whenever she choked up from smoke exposure. <br />
<br />
On the night Tonte died, she had propped open the outside door hoping to let
smoke out, moved several smokers to the other side of the room and took extra
puffs on her inhaler. Despite this, Tonte was still struggling to breathe, so
she decided to go home early, get away from the smoke, relax, and rest up. She
assured bar/lounge co-workers that with some extra rest at home, she would be
fine, and be able to arrive safely the following working day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">However she didn't arrive at her
work place the next day. To the concern of her colleagues and <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>devoted
friends who restlessly waited for their beloved’s arrival, she was a no-show.
In fact by mid-morning when she had not showed up, and hadn't called in sick,
the supervisor felt very concerned. He hastily drove to Tonte's home. The door
was locked. There was no answer to the doorbell. Security staff were called to
help pry open the door. Their worst fears were realized. There lying dead on
the floor was Tonte. She had completely choked up at home and stopped breathing
before she could even call anyone for help. <br />
<br />
Who surprised me as the early morning sad news messenger of "Tonte Died
Last Night," It was the leader of the so called "Quint Bar
Owners" group who in obvious emotional distress called to tell me. This
man had been the opposition leader against smoke-free bars/lounges. As a
further surprise invitation in his emotional call to me, he and the Tempe
Bar/Lounge owner as former opponents of our second hand smoke-free environment
law totally switched sides after Tonte died from her workplace smoke exposure. <br />
<br />
At the touching & widely-attended Memorial Service, the owner, Mr D,
greeted me emotionally, as "Doctor Smoke-Free" and with his
distraught wife as witness, pledged a special memorial to Tonte's life and her
preventable early death. He pledged that henceforth there would be absolutely
no more smoke exposure for any employee ever again inside his bar. He said that
he deeply regretted that it took Tonte's death to make him painfully aware of
something that he had totally neglected: The need for protecting the health and
life of his precious employees. <br />
<br />Unfortunately, this story you are just read is one that resonates with too many people across the length & breadth of the country as the current situation fails to protect citizens at their workplace from Second-Hand Smoke due to tobacco use.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Join us in making this strong appeal for the National Assembly to pass this
bill, follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like
our post, drop your comments and share widely with others. Together we can make
the change that we all desire.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Facebook: Visit and like
Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl
to your circle</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">NOTE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Tonte died last night is a fictitious
human angle story. All characters are creations of the author entirely and bear
no semblance to known persons</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-89182225518399817252014-02-05T08:25:00.001-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.783-07:00Jide's SHS Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXc/-CjWYdlTkkU/s1600/SHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2T2ZzOyFxTc/UvJCZ1NRpcI/AAAAAAAAAXc/-CjWYdlTkkU/s1600/SHS.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jide
is working for a leading consultancy in Lagos with great prospects for career
progression. Infact, Mr. B, his boss has taken him under his wings and is
determined to help him become the best he can be. Jide is happy to work for
such a seasoned professional and looks back at the days when after NYSC, job
hunting took him to the nooks & corners of the city seeking the golden
fleece. He is thankful for the opportunity and knows it is a dream come true. That
is why he will not allow anything including ill health stop him from giving his
best as he cannot afford to disappoint his benefactor. He would have to
literally be unable to move before he misses one day of work as he not only loves
his job and has without fail showed up daily for the past five years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now,
Jide is getting married to his lady, Edidong who he met two years back in the
course of one of their work at a client site. Content he has made the right
choice, he is looking forward to their wedding scheduled for March 2014. On a
bright & sunny day, Jide wakes up and cannot get out of bed. He wonders
what's happening since he was perfectly fine though come to think of it, has
been experiencing some intermittent chest pains for a while now. Since his
office also provided good health cover, he decided to do a quick check thinking
it will be just a visit only to hear Dr. Emeka say he is to be admitted for
close monitoring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two
days after, Dr. Emeka comes into Jide's private room paid for by the office and
he wears a sad look. Jide assumes it must be some other case of his that is
bogging him since he is expecting the good doctor to say 'you have been
discharged'. Edidong is by his bedside too and they both looking expectantly,
wait for the Dr. Emeka to speak. Clearing his throat, he begins to ask a series
of routine questions like do you smoke?, do you drink alcohol?, when was your
last HIV test? </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jide
is getting upset with the line of questions and snaps 'Doc, you've got my
medical history so why all these questions?.' Dr Emeka gazes at him and after
an uncomfortable silence says 'I don't want to shock you but you have got
cancer of the lungs'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What!
Jide exclaims. That is impossible. Turning to Edidong, he seeks clarification.
How can this be? Dr. Emeka speaks further the further tests I ordered two days
ago just can in and this is the prognosis. Now, we have to decide on a course
of action. Jide not willing to let matters slide states to the good doctor,
there must be an error with the result. Dr. Emeka with a sober countenance says
he had the lab doing the test thrice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edidong
speaks for the first time to Dr. Emeka 'Are you sure, doctor?' What is the
cause of this? Smoking came the reply. Now, Jide is baffled. I have never
smoked once in the my life so, there must be a mistake here. Surely, there is a
mix-up somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking
further, Dr. Emeka replies if you don't smoke, do you have people around you either
now or in the past who do regularly? Jide is quick to answer NO! then he pauses
deep in thought. For you see, his beloved mentor, Mr. B is a die-hard smoker and
cannot be separated from his cigarettes. What about his dad who while he loved
dearly till he died but was also addicted to smoking. Surely, they were the
ones smoking & not him so what is the connection? SHS came the doctor's
reply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Quite
a number of us are aware of the dangers of smoking on our body but few of us
know of the extended impact smoking carries through SHS on people who are not
smokers but are exposed to cigarette smoke and thus, inhale it as other folks
around them puff away either in the workplace, at home, in school or elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
you see, while smoking is a lifestyle choice. One person's choice has been
proven to no longer affect just him/her as when it comes to smoking, the field
of influence is anybody & everybody around the smoking zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore,
it is critical that you & I support the Tobacco Control cause that has implications for all of
us. Lets take a big step towards preserving the lives of Nigerian citizens
TODAY as we urge the National assembly to follow suit by assenting to the pending
National Tobacco (Control) Bill passed since 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Join
us in making this strong appeal for the National Assembly to pass this bill,
follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like our
post, drop your comments and share widely with others. Together we can make the
change that we all desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-
Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-
Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-
Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-
2go: add Tobaccoctrl<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NOTE<br />Jide's SHS story is a fictitous human angle story. All characters are creation's of the author entirely and bear no semblance to known persons.</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-14141605708402010002014-01-29T06:23:00.001-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.672-07:00Action speaks louder...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl-UJointeA/UukOr4rj8lI/AAAAAAAAAXI/BaPqNTlBLOo/s1600/actions+greater+words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl-UJointeA/UukOr4rj8lI/AAAAAAAAAXI/BaPqNTlBLOo/s1600/actions+greater+words.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you ask a number of people who smoke i.e. teenagers and adults, it is amazing
how many, out of ignorance think that there are no effects of smoking on their
bodies until they reach middle age. However, the many serious & harmful
effects of smoking occur much sooner than we think. In fact, smoking has
numerous immediate health effects on the brain and on 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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
recent studies show a marked increase in the global number of smokers with developing
countries providing the bulk of these smokers, the time to ACT by putting in
place comprehensive tobacco-use legislation is NOW!. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this post, we would like to briefly review certain tobacco control policy acts in the
21st century, with focus on the impact of specific interventions on
tobacco use in four countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Russia<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On June 1,<sup> </sup>2013, Russia banned
smoking in public areas - airports and train stations, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://topics.time.com/schools/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">schools</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://topics.time.com/hospitals/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hospitals</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, among other public spots. Tobacco
ads were also vanished from streets and as such w<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>on’t be
featured in Russian movies. It was reported that after this move, half of its
citizens that smoked actually stopped and an estimated 200,000 deaths annually
will be prevented owing to the new legislation being enforced.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ireland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Was the first nation to introduce a country-wide
workplace smoking ban in March 2004 on smoking in enclosed workplaces. This new
ban was built onto the 1988 sanctions against cigarette smoking in many public
buildings and on transportation systems. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since then, other members of the European Union have
followed Ireland's good example leading to strong anti-tobacco laws in place
across Europe with proper enforcement taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was recorded in 2005 that the number of people
with respiratory issues dropped by 17% with 80% of smokers saying that the ban
encouraged them to quit smoking. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New
research on the effect of the 2004 legislation has </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/smoking-ban-saves-3700-lives-thanks-to-cleaner-air-29230057.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">found</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> double-digit drops in heart disease
and strokes rates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile
in a radical move, further legislation banning smoking in private or commercial
vehicles carrying children cars has been introduced. Arguing this is a human rights issue, the
Children's Health Protection bill was enacted in January and came into force in
July 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">India<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While legislation to ban smoking was
passed in 2003, the </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7645868.stm"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">guidelines</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> were not solidified until Oct.
2, 2008, which incidentally is the birthday of nonsmoker & global icon
Mohandas Gandhi. At the time, India was home to 120 million smokers — 900,000
of whom were dying each year from tobacco-related illnesses — and earlier
efforts to curb the habit had proved ineffective owing to inconsistent enforcement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
2007, strong advocacy campaigns by civil society groups was key in pushing for
the implementation of the 2003 Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA)
in Chandigarh</span>.<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Working with the local
administration, Chandigarh</span> became India's first smoke-free city via active
enforcement of existing laws so they are not just 'paper laws'. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since
then, over fifteen other cities like Chennai and including popular hill resort,
Shimla have attained the smoke-free status. In July 2013, Himachal Pradesh</span>
became the first 'smoke-free' state in India. For the 2013-14 budget, the state
has doubled taxes on tobacco products and imposed VAT as well to discourage
sales.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S.<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like the majority of the world, the
U.S. does not have a nationwide smoking ban. However, local and state
authorities legislate tobacco use in their domain. Therefore to protect minors,
the tobacco-use age limit is set at 18years as the statistics show a higher
percentage of citizens who smoke are between the ages of 18 to 24.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
2013, New York City & Hawaii County introduced new measures raising the
tobacco-use age to 21years. Legislatures in three other states Vermont,
Maryland, Utah had introduced similar measure while these measures are also
currently under consideration by lawmakers in Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, New
Jersey, Oregon, New York and Washington, D.C. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Schools
like George Washington University have further gone to earmark a ban on smoking
within 25 ft. of all university-owned public spaces towards achieving a
smoke-free zone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">........................................................................................................................................<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
recent move by the lawmakers in Lagos state passing a law prohibiting smoking
in public places in the state is commendable. As the nation's economic hub, leading
the fight in such a critical matter of public health & safety is vital to
sustaining the health of her working population. However, similar initiatives
need to be brought to fruition across the other thirty-five states while
enforcing these laws is essential for the attainment of a smoke-free Nigeria. This is because ACTION speaks louder than WORDS as this is the best medium to see concrete improvement in controlling the use of tobacco and its products in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ongoing
efforts in the National Assembly on tobacco control laws need to be
consolidated with the proper laws passed at legislative & executive levels
without delay. This is crucial to Nigeria's economic well-being and the health of
all her citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Join
us in making this strong appeal for the National Assembly to pass this bill,
follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like our
post, drop your comments and share widely with others. Together we can
make the change that we all desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18.7pt;">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.933332443237305px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 15pt;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-54046099949804816122014-01-21T22:25:00.004-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.731-07:008million lives is no joke<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=800" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKWJRcEPTwY/Ut9ia2MWMZI/AAAAAAAAAWk/86eu_esXTuk/s1600/50th+TC+Anniversary_option+b.jpg" height="400" width="353" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smoking has
been one of the major issues that has occupied the minds of the medical
profession for the past four decades. Until the 1960s, there was no clearly
detailed understanding alerting the nations of the consequences of smoking on
the lives of individuals, and its impact on society as a whole. This in return
has transformed the issue from one of individual and consumer choice, to one of
epidemiology, public health, and risk for smokers and non-smokers alike. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than 8
million lives has been saved since the anti-smoking campaign started in 1964 in
US, not counting the effect it has had in other countries. Now this is a huge
number as it shows an average of 160 000 lives per year over the fifty years in review. This is in contrast to the number of smokers recorded nationwide in some countries especially Bangladesh, Russia, Indonesia and China helping increase the global
population of people who smoke to close 1billion in 2012. Perhaps it could have
been double this number if anti-smoking campaigns did not take place recording significant success stories in different continents across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to a number of studies
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the
anti-smoking measures implemented in the U.S. following the 1964 report from
then-Surgeon General Luther Terry that outlined the deadly consequences of
tobacco consumption, has managed to save nearly 8 million of lives and a total
of 157 million years of life. Terry’s report, which called for stringent
measures to curb smoking habits among people, had sparked a massive campaign
aided by tax increases, smoking restrictions and bans in public places among
other measures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is encouraging to know that there
has been a steady progress over the past century, as now, a 40-year-old man can
expect on average to live 7.8 years longer than he would have in 1964, and 30
percent of that improvement can be attributed to tobacco control. The gains for
women have been slightly less, 5.4 years, but tobacco control accounts for 29
percent of that benefit," stated Theodore R. Holford, the lead author of
the study.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although there were increases in
number of cigarettes consumed and global number of smokers over the past five
decades, the researchers noted that global smoking prevalence and the number of
smokers in proportion to the total population has declined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While these countries celebrate this
achievement, it is disturbing to know that the number of people who smoke in
developing countries like Nigeria and other low and middle-income countries has
increased over time, offsetting the progress made in countries such as the
U.S., Canada, Iceland and Mexico, where smoking prevalence has decreased by
nearly 50 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the overall number of
smokers worldwide is still rising, this study shows how important it is for all
countries to implement a range of tobacco control measures to curb the terrible and yet deadly toll of tobacco-related illness and death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore we urge all Nigerians at home and abroad to support our cause and join </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">us
in making this strong appeal for both chambers of the National Assembly to pass comprehensive tobacco control legislation that is enforced across the country NOW that the President signs into law speedily!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JOIN US TODAY by following us on twitter, adding your voice by visiting our facebook page, like our
post, drop your comments and share widely with others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-40946654209862521902014-01-15T06:38:00.002-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.716-07:00Letting the numbers speak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">A look at the number of people who smoke globally showed from 1980 to 2012 a drop from 26 percent to 18.7 percent. This was part of the findings in a study recently conducted by the University of Washington who undertook a detailed analysis of the impact of the presence or lack of tobacco control legislation across 182 countries.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is therefore astonishing that while there is a drop in global rate of smokers, the actual number of smokers worldwide alongside the sheer number of cigarettes consumed are at an all time high. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the number of cigarettes smoked globally from 1980 to 2012 has jumped from 5trillion to 6.25trillion, an increase of about 25 percent. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 1980, the number of adults who smoked daily was 721million worldwide whereas in 2012, the number of adults who smoked daily was 967.3 million people with the average daily smoking habit per user staying at eighteen cigarettes over the period in view. This is owing largely to the significant increase in the number of smokers in developing countries despite remarkable reductions in smoking numbers from developed countries.</div>
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<a href="http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2022617199.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" Sourced from SeattleTimes" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGKIebRQw-A/UtaH8n8MP0I/AAAAAAAAAWU/VjpaYU6N0hs/s640/Global+Smoking+Figs.gif" width="432" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, there are models to follow amongst the community of developing countries when it comes to achieving success stories concerning the use of tobacco and its products. Two of these are Mexico and Uruguay. For example, since 1980, the smoking rate in Mexico has fallen faster than in the US as they have a policy in place requiring graphic warning labels be displayed on all cigarette packages. The study shows a current 10% smoking level in Mexico which 5 percent less than that of the US and Canada for instance.</div>
<span style="text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Uruguay was the first country to adopt certain elements of WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This saw the introduction of higher cigarette taxes and restrictions on advertising that has brought dramatic results witnessing a 25 percent drop in just three years of smoking rates across the country.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This means that Mexico and Uruguay for instance, can divert both personal and national funds that would been spent on any tobacco-related deaths to other areas of need. This is instructive as the healthcare costs associated with tobacco use are simply enormous. 440,000 deaths arise from smoking in the US with associated health costs about $193billion. This means an average of almost $440000 is spent per smoke-related death. A number developing countries surely, cannot afford.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This suggests that its a matter of urgency for countries like Nigeria to take appropriate steps NOW to mitigate the impact of smoking on the health of her citizens over the next fifty years as a smoking lifestyle affects not just the smoker but others around them. One of such interventions is the need for increased public awareness and campaigns targeted at getting smokers to understand & map their choices with health challenges for their friends and family.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, the most critical step to begin to see us write our own success story on tobacco control must be the WILL to first enact correct legislation regarding the use of tobacco and its products that is thereafter, enforced properly at local, state & federal levels. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Research has shown that the economic growth of any country is closely linked to healthy well-being of her citizens. This is not a myth and accepting that healthcare rights are fundamental must be a key priority of any government since allows us as a society to maximise the productivity lifespan of each citizen.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For tobacco use in Nigeria, it is evident beyond any doubt we CANNOT afford to stand on our hands and fail to act. That action begins with the National Assembly enacting the right legislation to protect and prevent the future generations of Nigerians so we can help make our country a SMOKE-FREE zone!</div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
join us in making this strong appeal for the National Assembly to pass this
bill, follow us on twitter, add your voice by visiting our facebook page, like our post, drop your
comments and share widely with others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-18127527492663880612014-01-08T00:34:00.001-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.677-07:00Fifty Years Ago: I have a dream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.glion.edu/news-archive/i-have-a-dream-for-human-resources-managers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="I have a dream" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwyvH4CBFEM/Us0NI-JkrNI/AAAAAAAAAWE/NVTv1jmlVrQ/s1600/IhaD.jpg" height="266" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Fifty years ago, </span><span style="text-align: left;">Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech was beginning to precipitate a major culture change in the US. However, </span>ashtrays littered everywhere and seemed to be on every table and
desk. Athletes and even Fred Flintstone endorsed cigarettes in TV commercials.
Smoke hung in the air in restaurants, offices and airplane cabins as more than 42
per cent of adults in the US smoked, with a good chance your doctor was
among them. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The turning point came on Jan. 11, 1964. It was on that
Saturday morning that U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released an emphatic
and authoritative report that said smoking causes illness and death — and the
government should do something about it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the decades that followed, warning labels were put on
cigarette packs, cigarette commercials were banned, taxes were raised and new
restrictions were placed on where people could light up. </span>“It was the beginning,” said Kenneth Warner, a University
of Michigan public health professor who is a leading authority on smoking and
health.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">It was not the end though as while the U.S. smoking rate has fallen
by more than half to 18 per cent, that still translates to more than 43 million
smokers. Smoking is still far and away the leading preventable cause of death
in the U.S and in other countries like Nigeria, the story is not different.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nevertheless, the Terry report has been called one of the
most important documents in U.S. public health history, and on its 50th
anniversary, officials are not only rolling out new anti-smoking campaigns but
reflecting on what the nation did right that day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is noteworthy to state that although cigarette consumption dropped a whopping 15 per cent over
the next three months after the 1964 report was published but then, it began to rebound as health officials realized it
would take more than one report.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thus, from 1965 to 1971, a number of policy changes came in place including the requirement for cigarette packs to carry warning
labels, free air time for anti-smoking public service
announcements on tv & radio stations and banning of cigarette commercials.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Still, progress was slow as smoking was the norm and many found it difficult to quit despite the known hazards. In the 70s, a movement was born to protect
nonsmokers from cigarette fumes, with no-smoking sections on airplanes, in
restaurants and in other places introduced. Those would give way to complete smoking
bans as cigarette machines disappeared, cigarette taxes rose, and restrictions on
the sale of cigarettes to minors got tougher.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With tobacco companies also coming under increasing legal attack, the biggest case of them all saw more than 40 states bring lawsuits demanding
compensation for the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses. Big Tobacco
settled in 1998 by agreeing to pay about $200 billion and curtail marketing of
cigarettes to youths. In 1998, while the settlement was being completed, tobacco
executives appeared before Congress and publicly acknowledged for the first
time that their products can cause lung cancer and be addictive.</div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<strong><span lang="EN-US">KEY EVENTS</span></strong><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Some key events in the US on the fight over tobacco during the last
50 years:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1964:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> U.S. surgeon
general report concludes smoking causes lung cancer.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1965: </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">Warning
labels required on cigarette packs.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1971: </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">TV and radio
commercials for cigarettes banned.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1972: </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">Airlines
told to provide no-smoking sections.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1987:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> Aspen,
Colo., becomes first U.S. city to ban smoking in restaurants.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1988:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> Smoking
banned on short domestic airline flights.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">1998: </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">Forty-six
states reach $206 billion settlement with cigarette makers.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">2000:</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> Smoking
prohibited on international flights.</span><br />
<strong><span lang="EN-US">2009: </span></strong><span lang="EN-US">Food and
Drug Administration authorized to regulate tobacco products.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">...............................................................................................................................................</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The above snapshot tells us the journey of combating tobacco use in the US. Fifty years ago, Nigeria was four years into her independence and one year old as a republic. Black & White TV was few & far between as most homes relied on radio for receiving information and news. The Internet was non-existent. Telephones were a major luxury. There were no states only sub-regions and agric products was our main source of income as a nation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As a country, we cannot afford to talk about another 50yrs before we begin to see significant changes made to how tobacco products are used. Infact, with our public health indices not good, the URGENCY to ACT and do so QUICKLY is right before us.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Examining examples from the US and a few other countries too, it is clear that until relevant laws and policies are put in place which is STRONGLY enforced across federal and state lines, little traction on making Nigeria smoke-free might be made.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The mantra 'Prevention is better than cure' remain the bedrock of all public health interventions and the onus is now on us as a nation to define in clear terms how our tobacco use story will evolve. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the national assembly resumes next week, there is need to support, advocate and bring more focus to its members in the senate and house of representatives what steps they MUST take by placing comprehensive tobacco use legislation for us to begin to see the emergence of a smoke-free country NOW!</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">SUPPORT & JOIN this cause on:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
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My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-20811301060757224402014-01-02T07:49:00.001-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.686-07:00Our Tobacco Control Marker for 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8x_bSTWiJdU/UsWRKlWCJ4I/AAAAAAAAAVk/4WYLjlEDQAU/s1600/notobacco+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8x_bSTWiJdU/UsWRKlWCJ4I/AAAAAAAAAVk/4WYLjlEDQAU/s320/notobacco+II.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Earlier today, I was reading an <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/tobacco/tripling-tobacco-taxes-may-avoid-200-million-deaths-worldwide/articleshow/28278513.cms" target="_blank">article</a> quoting a doctor with the University of Toronto as stating tripling tobacco tax will reduce smoke by a third and potentially prevent an estimated 200 million lives dying prematurely from lung cancer and other diseases this century. "A higher tax on tobacco is the single most effective intervention to lower smoking rates and to deter future smokers," Jha said.<br />
<br />
While this is bound to bring about much debate and generate tons of opinion on its impact, such policy thrust comes from a clear base of thought that has been encapsulated in the laws of any nation defining what is legal and illegal particularly when it comes to tobacco, its products and their use.</div>
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For Nigeria, our <b>2014 new year</b> sojourn begins with the need for us to set certain markers as essential things to get done over the course of the year that will propel us forward as a people and escalate our growth with better health indices. One such key goal is an enactment & implementation of a comprehensive tobacco legislation in the country with the broad objectives of;</div>
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1) Protecting minors from being involved in the distribution of tobacco and its products</div>
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2) Protecting minors from being involved in the production of tobacco and its products</div>
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3) Protecting minors from being involved in the sale of tobacco and its products</div>
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4) Protecting the Nigerian citizen from harmful exposure to second-hand smoke (shs) in public places like hospitals, government establishments, offices, entertainment centers, schools amongst others</div>
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5) Stopping the glamourization of tobacco and its products via attractive packaging and advertisements.</div>
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When it comes to laws, the legislative arm of government is our umpire as they draft and propose legislation that aims to positively impact the lives of Nigerians across all cadres.</div>
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As this year precedes elections in 2015, the window to get the present session of the National Assembly and state assemblies too to conclude all ongoing tobacco legislative efforts is time-bound. </div>
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However, entering into 2014 with fresh hopes and expectations, as citizens of the commonwealth of Nigeria, we can play an active role in supporting efforts to encourage the legislative arm of government that a smoke-free Nigeria is of prime importance to us NOW and thus, is possible and attainable!</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">JOIN this cause on:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Twitter: Follow @TobaccoCtrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-3407385966312407222013-12-25T08:55:00.002-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.700-07:00A Christmas Wish...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://camelotcraft.com.au/images/Christmas_Wish_si4732c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://camelotcraft.com.au/images/Christmas_Wish_si4732c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its that time
of the year again where people embark on long journeys, ditch their bosses for
a while just so they can celebrate Christmas with family and friends.
For many also, it's a season when there'll be plenty to eat & drink.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Growing up,
as children, we would make Christmas wishes and we always got excited when they
are fulfilled. However, for some people, Christmas brought no respite from the
everyday challenges they faced as it was just another day amongst many and as a
result, some have </span><span style="color: #333333;">inoculated</span><span style="color: #333333;"> ourselves
from the pain so they do not have to go through the hassles of wishing for
something they know will never come true.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Whatever
class we belong, those who still have </span><span style="color: #333333;">Christmas hopes
or those who associate the season with unpleasant thoughts, our one wish this
Christmas will be of value to everyone and it is that we see a smoke-free
Nigeria emerge from the current status. As a nation with a varied number of
health challenges including losing children at unripe ages, we see the
emergence of a smoke-free Nigeria as a key contributor to ensuring our
current high child mortality rate is reduced significantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">If you are a
mom/mom-to-be that smokes or you know anyone that does, kindly consider or
relay this information below and we believe that after this, you'll be able to
help make our Christmas wish come true - </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">How smoking affects your baby:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><br />
<i>Weight and size</i></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">On
average, a pack-a-day habit during pregnancy will shave about a half-pound from
a baby's birth weight. Smoking two packs a day throughout your pregnancy could
make your baby a full pound or more lighter. While some women may welcome the
prospect of delivering a smaller baby, stunting a baby's growth in the womb can
have negative consequences that last a lifetime.<br />
<i><br />
</i></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Body and lungs</span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Undersize
babies tend to have underdeveloped bodies. Their lungs may not be ready to work
on their own, which means they may spend their first days or weeks attached to
a respirator. After they're breathing on their own (or even if they did from
the start), these babies may have continuing breathing problems — because of
delayed lung development or other adverse effects of nicotine. Children whose
mothers smoked during pregnancy are especially vulnerable to <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_asthma_74.bc"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">asthma</span></a>,
and have double or even triple the risk of <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/baby-sleep-safety"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sudden infant
death syndrome</span></a> (SIDS).</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Heart</span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Babies whose mother smoked in the first trimester of pregnancy are more
likely to have a heart defect at birth.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Researchers analyzed data on 2,525 babies who had heart defects at birth
and 3,435 healthy babies born in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., between 1981
and 1989.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Brain function</span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Smoking during pregnancy can
have lifelong effects on your baby's brain. Children of pregnant smokers are
especially likely to have</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_what-is-a-learning-disability_65011.bc"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">learning disorders</span></a>, behavioral problems, and
relatively low IQs. </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">In summary,
we're saying is stop smoking and if you don't smoke, help someone to stop and
let's make it possible for our children to live in a smoke-free Nigeria.</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry
Christmas!!!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24249101.post-80691555886233131222013-12-18T05:10:00.002-08:002016-07-05T23:40:12.779-07:00Keep it OUT!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://tobaccoctrl.ng/" target="_blank"><img alt="Kick It OUT!" border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSa1nObxMDM/UrGWn4oYnkI/AAAAAAAAAVM/xBYKc6qrNsw/s400/Design+1.png" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just yesterday, a friend relayed a story to me that was mind-blowing yet sad. He was in the UK and the weather was cold, wind chilly as everyone sought ways to keep warm by covering up as much as possible. As he boarded the bus, a sight caught his attention. It was that of a young family with a husband and his wife were walking with their baby. As the guy
was doing the pushing of the buggy, he was reminded how times have changed indeed with men
more involved in rearing their kids beyond just providing keep-money. Since the
wife was free of 'hand-baggage', he took a second look only to find a shocking sight - She
was puffing away.</div>
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He told me a myriad of questions went through his mind wondering 'Is she
aware of the dangers of smoking to her baby? How often does she smoke daily? Is
her husband aware of the harmful effects of smoking for children? Is her doctor
aware she smokes? Has she been warned by any medical personnel? Is she just
choosing to ignore the consequences? Surely, she can sacrifice for her child,
right? </div>
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Refusing to believe or accept that the lady in question is
a bad mother, his thoughts were on how far-reaching the damage she is
causing not just to herself but her baby and spouse too is. It seemed the classic case
of shooting oneself in the foot and blaming others.</div>
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Researchers in the UK recently analysed three existing
studies from New Zealand, Cardiff and the United States and published the result in a medical journal, JAMA Psychiatry. The studies were focused on
understanding conduct problems in children between ages four and they found a link between maternal
smoking and behavioral disorders in children. There was also observed increase in level of disorder with increase in the amount of cigarettes
smoked. </div>
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Based on undeniable findings, they reached a conclusion that prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was contributing significantly to subsequent conduct disorder in children as they
grow as its consequences were no longer restricted to prenatal risk but
rather extend to the lifespan and affects the quality of life for countless
individuals.</div>
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Infact, in another poll conducted by Pfizer asking smokers
how they funded their smoking habits in tougher economic times, it was revealed
that smoking parents were often more willing to reduce their child's
quality of life than go without cigarettes. This is surely a lifestyle
behaviour we do not want future generations to emulate. Lets keep smoking
menace OUT of Nigeria.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We are on:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">- Twitter: @TobaccoCtrl</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">- Facebook: Visit and like Tobaccoctrl</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">- Google Plus: add Tobaccoctrl to your circle</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">- 2go: add Tobaccoctrl</span></div>
</div>
My Thotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12978266768490293292noreply@blogger.com0