A Professor of Anatomy, Gabriel Omotoso, of the University of Ilorin has identified tobacco smoking as the cause of over eight million death yearly across the globe.
According to the Professor, tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide.
Professor Omotoso made the declaration while delivering the 259th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin.
Delivering his papers, he said that the latest global estimate of tobacco users, is 1.25 billion people. He stated that 80 per cent of this are in low- and middle-income countries.
According the don, out of the 8 million yearly deaths from tobacco usage, “1.3 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.”
The Prof, however, lamented that “despite a great deal of health education and awareness on the grave implications of cigarette smoking, many people are still caught in the web of the habit. He pointed out that in Nigeria for instance, 10 per cent of the population smoke tobacco daily”.
Omotoso also identified some adverse consequences of cigarette smoking on different organs of the body. These, he said includes its adverse effects on male gonads and reproduction/fertility.
He added that passive cigarette smoking also detrimentally affects adult brains.
The Prof, therefore, stressed the need for all of us to arise and protect our children from tobacco industry interference.
Omotoso used the occasion to call on the Government, to enforce Tobacco Production laws in the country. He urged the Government to “take a cue from other countries, such as New Zealand, United Kingdom and Australia to effect this”.
He, however, noted the urgent need for public enlightenment to educate society about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking.
The Prof also underscored the need to improve access to diagnostic tools to mitigate the challenge of disease diagnosis in the country.
He pointed that “tobacco smoking, whether actively or passively, is deadly.”
The Prof, therefore advised that people should avoided like cigarette smoking like a plague.
He specifically advised pregnant women or women planning to conceive, to avoid tobacco exposure.
source: Channels TV
