In a recent briefing to commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2024, Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, urged the public to quit smoking to safeguard against its severe health risks.
Dr. Yusuf emphasized that smoking is a risk factor for numerous non-communicable diseases.
“Tobacco use is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, renal failure, various cancers, and intestinal ischemia,” he stated.
The Commissioner also warned of the risks to unborn children, noting that pregnant women who smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke put their infants at higher risk of congenital disorders, cancer, lung diseases, and sudden death.
Dr. Yusuf revealed that tobacco causes over 8 million deaths annually, with more than 7 million resulting from direct use and approximately 1.2 million from second-hand smoke exposure.
He pointed out that over 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low and middle-income countries, and the prevalence of smoking is rising in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.
The Commissioner referenced the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), which reported that 5.6% of Nigerians aged 15 and older use tobacco products, with 3.9% being current smokers.
He expressed concern over the increasing rate of youth smoking in Kano, noting that 6.2% of youths smoke, with boys at 11.4% and girls at 1.8%. This trend, he suggested, is driven by income growth, increased cigarette affordability, and marketing by the tobacco industry.
Dr. Yusuf called for stronger tobacco control policies, including awareness campaigns and increased tobacco taxes, to curb the rise in smoking.
The state Commissioner of Health also acknowledged the efforts of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration in working with partners and stakeholders to combat tobacco use in the state.
