Statistics from the Food and Drugs Authority, FDA indicate that Tobacco smoking prevalence in Ghana reduced from 27 to 20 percent between 2000 and 2016.
Speaking at the launch of World No Tobacco Day in Accra, CEO of the FDA, Mrs. Delese Darko disagreed with the notion that smoking Shisha is safer than tobacco.
She said an anti shisha campaign has been initiated by the FDA to address this.
Mrs. Darko urged Ghanaians to ensure that World No Tobacco Day is observed every day. The launch was on the theme “Tobacco and Lung Health”
Although legal, Tobacco is one of the deadliest substances consumed by man.
Of the eight million people who die annually from smoking tobacco, one million of them are second hand smokers.
In Ghana, 75 men die from smoking tobacco weekly. Despite the alarming figures, CEO of the FDA Mrs. Delese Darko says tobacco smoking prevalence in Ghana has reduced.
“Current tobacco smoking prevalence rate has declined from 27% to 20%. However, the pace of action to reduce tobacco demand and related deaths and diseases is still lacking behind”.
The head of Tobacco and substance abuse department of the FDA, Olivia Boateng gave the progress report on Tobacco Control Regulation in the country.
“More girls are now doing shisha because its treding. Current tobacco smokers wjo thought about quitting constitute 44.8% after they saw the labeling or health warinings we have introduced.”
World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31, each year to raise awareness of the harm that substance causes to the human body and the environment. Stakeholders chanted slogans such as “Don’t let tobacco take your breath away” and Choose health, not tobacco”.
Story by Nathaniel Nartey.
