WTD: Anti - Tobacco Campaigners Advocate Rehab Center For Ouitters
By Hannah ARIKPO
A Consultant Pathologist at the University of Calabar teaching hospital, UCTH, Calabar, Professor Ima - Obong Ekanem has lend her voice to growing calls by anti tobacco campaigners for the establishment of special health units across NYSC Secretariats in the Country to help Smokers Quit the habit of smoking and drug abuse.
Prof. Ekanem who is also the Director in charge of the Calabar Cancer Registry was speaking in a lecture titled, ' Tobacco control awareness among the youths as a Cancer prevention strategy in Calabar, Nigeria' while addressing Corps members at the NYSC Secretariat to commomerate the "World No Tobacco Day" celebrated globally every June 4
Ekanem explained that the establishment of such a clinic in NYSC Secretariats in Nigeria, to be ran by Neurologists will create awareness on the dangers of nicotine in human body, help in the adoption of healthy lifestyle to stem the rising incidents of tobacco related cancer diseases as well as reduce cases of madness.
According to her, a recent survey shows that twenty - six percent of youths are current users of tobacco warning that the smoke emission from cigarette contains over four thousand dangerous substances found in poison, acid, sewage gas, ammonia, candle wax, battery among others, " from the head to the toes of the human body, tobacco causes serious health hazards to both passive and active smokers ranging from respiratory to reproductive organs causing, stroke, asthma, eye problems, heart diseases and so on".
The University Don, further disclosed findings of another study proved that, ninety percent of Youth C
orps members in Cross River State are nonsmokers, eighty percent don't do Shisha, inspite of their knowledge about Shisha as a tobacco product while twenty percent of the smokers indicated interest to stop smoking.
"There is hope, eighty five percent of Youths Corps Members in Cross River support the setting up of a health unit to assist chronic smokers who want to stop smoking."
"Majority of Youth Corps Members are nonsmokers, figures. show that ninety percent don't smoke, eighty percent don't do Shisha though they know about Shisha as a tobacco product. I am happy with the result of the research." The Prof expressed.
The Deputy Commander, Narcotics, Cross River State Command, Commander Oseni Ibrahim, identified tobacco as a gateway to drug abuse and smoking of harmful substances such as, Ice, Shisha, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana etc, pointing out that most smokers are seen with cigarettes in public but step aside to take the dangerous ones in private.
"The tobacco company entice young people with diverse marketing strategies making their product appear appealing and glamorous, but the ultimate goal is to make their money to sustain their business to the detriment of the young people." Ibrahim emphasised.
The Vice Chairman, College of Nigerian Pathologist Calabar chapter Dr. Chris Chimezie and the state Coordinator, NYSC, represented by the Assistant Director, Pastor Ezekiel Edeh pledged unalloyed support to ensure that the sensitisation of maintaining a tobacco free society gets to the right population to effect the much desired change for the youths.
