Story By Khadijat Aliyu
Kano state Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Education would establish Tobacco-Free Clubs in some selected secondary schools across the state.
The state commissioner of Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf made the indication during a media parley to commemorate World no Tobacco Day in Kano.
According to him, the Ministry is also planning to sensitize owners and managers of hotels, motor parks, markets among others on the enforcement of the smoke free provision of the NTC Act and Regulations.
He stressed that tobacco Atlas 2018 hinted that, globally 942 million men and 175 million women aged fifteen or older are current smokers, while the prevalence of tobacco smoking is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria.
Dr. Abubakar maintained that in Nigeria, the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), showed that 5.6% representing 4.5 million Nigerians aged fifteen years and older were currently using tobacco products of which 3.9% or 3.1 million were current smokers.
“A study has shown that youths smoking cigarettes in Kano are 6.2% Boys 11.4%, Girls 1.8%”
The commissioner attributed the increase to income growth and cigarette affordability, as well as the tobacco industry’s strategy of aggressive marketing.
He pointed out that government in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders have made remarkable achievements including training of law enforcement officers from several law enforcement agencies on enforcing the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act 2015.
“in which the Act contains several provisions that provides for the protection of children, such as the ban on sale and purchase of tobacco and tobacco products by minors”
“Others are currently collating Data on Youth and Tobacco in Africa (DaYTA) survey, for adolescents aged between 10 – 17”
Dr. Abubakar highlighted that effective tobacco control is multisectoral and cannot be achieved by the State alone, hence the need for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act and its Regulations.
The commissioner urged government to implement stronger tobacco control policies, including creating more awareness on danger of tobacco smoking and raising taxes to increase prices of tobacco products to reduce the menace.
He commended the state government, , Kano emirate council, Federal Ministry of Health, NPHCDA , WHO, UNICEF, Management Sciences for Health (MSH), Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), and Project HOPE, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Rotary, CHAI, Malaria Consortium, Solina, KECCOH among others for their support in improving the lives of the people of Kano.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
