Fatshimetrie: Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry’s Shenanigans
The country’s representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, on Friday in Abuja, at a press conference to commemorate the 2024 World No Tobacco Day, with the theme “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference”, expressed his commitment to a future free from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction for future generations.
He dreams of the day when tobacco products will be banned in Nigeria, preventing their sale and purchase. He also stressed that the tobacco industry must be held accountable for the harm it is causing to health, the environment and the economy.
Alarming figures have been put forward, showing that more than eight million people die each year from tobacco use, including seven million direct tobacco-related deaths, and approximately 1.2 million non-smokers die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The recent WHO report “Attracting the Next Generation” reveals that 37 million children aged 13 to 15 use tobacco. Adolescent use of e-cigarettes exceeds that of adults in many countries.
The tobacco industry is deliberately targeting young people to become lifelong users, creating a new wave of addiction. The range of products used to attract young people has expanded dramatically, from cigarettes, cigarillos and hookahs to new products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.
Flavoured products, stylish designs, child-friendly packaging and images make addictive products even more attractive to young people. Companies are rapidly launching new products that circumvent or are not included in current laws, expanding their market share in defiance of regulations.
In Nigeria, according to Dr Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, 4.5 million Nigerians aged 15 and above currently use tobacco products, of which 3.1 million are smokers. The minister highlighted concerns about the impact of tobacco industry interference on children’s health. The adverse effects are numerous, including respiratory ailments, cognitive problems and increased susceptibility to addiction later in life.
Exposure to second-hand smoke also poses a significant threat to children’s well-being, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, asthma and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It can also affect the baby’s lung, cardiovascular and brain development, increasing the risk of obesity, behavioural problems and later cardiovascular diseases..
In combating the dangers of tobacco, Nigeria has taken significant steps, including signing and ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty in 2004 and 2005 respectively. The country also passed the National Tobacco Control Law in 2015 and its implementing regulations in 2019, containing several provisions aimed at protecting children, including banning the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to minors.
Additionally, the Tobacco Control unit has planned to establish Tobacco Free Clubs in selected schools and create awareness among owners/managers of public spaces in one state from each geopolitical zone, in collaboration with Management Sciences for Health.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, chairman of the National Tobacco Control Alliance of Nigeria, stresses the need for targeted legislation and strong enforcement in the face of the tobacco industry’s perfidious strategies to target children with harmful products.
Ultimately, it is essential to protect our younger generations from the traps of the tobacco industry, by strengthening laws and control measures and raising public awareness of the dangers of tobacco consumption. Actions taken today in terms of prevention will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of future generations.