Medical practitioners in Nigeria have drawn the attention of the government to the hazards attacked to the smoking of tobacco.
Worried by the negative effects of smoking on the heath of
Nigerians, doctors, under the umbrella of Epidemiological Society of
Nigeria (EPISON) have called for an absolute ban on tobacco adverts and
sponsorship of sports.
In a communiqué issued at the end its 6th annual scientific
conference and general meeting held recently in Abuja, EPISON observed
that high rate of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor diet and
sedentary lifestyle, especially among the youths, is worsening the
landscape for non-communicable diseases.
The conference also called for proper funding and strengthening of
the National Biosafety Management Agency to enable it monitor all
activities related to the GMO technology in Nigeria, to forestall
unintended adverse consequences.
The communiqué, which was signed by both the chairman and secretary
of the society, Prof. A.I Zoakah and Dr. Matthew Ashikeni respectively,
urges government to adequately fund research to address the health
challenges in the epidemiological transition.
The society also charged the federal government to, as a matter of
urgency, increase budgetary allocation to the health sector to meet the
15% Abuja Declaration of 2001 and ensure timely and complete release of
budgeted funds.
“We urge all tiers of government to strengthen the surveillance
system through provision of infrastructure and continuous training of
the manpower who work in the surveillance system.
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