GMA holds forum on Tobacco

Accra, June 2, GNA-Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East has called on the government to assist butchers to acquire the necessary materials to enable them to prepare their meat or cow hide in a hygienic manner.

He said by using the requisite materials, people who patronize the product would be free from smoke-related diseases. Dr Ahmed, who made the call at a community outreach forum on tobacco in Accra on Saturday, said the situation where butchers burn second-hand tyres

to prepare their cow hide was not hygienic enough for its consumption and called for a better alternative. The forum organized by the Ghana Muslim Academy, was under the theme: 'Smoke-Free Environment'. It coincided with the World No Tobacco Day which was observed on May 31.

The Member of Parliament said smoking reduces sperm-count, it reduces the ability to perform sexually and it reduces body immunity to diseases.

He therefore called on all to join hands to fight against the menace which he said is eating deep into the society. Dr Ahmed said Parliament is waiting for the Bill on Tobacco which will be laid before Parliament soon which would be passed into an act which, would ban smoking at public places. He congratulated the GMA for sustaining the fight against smoking in Ghana and also their continuous educational campaign over the years. Speaking on the topic: 'The causes and effects of Tobacco Use and Tobacco Smoke in our Communities', Mr Adams Edwin, Senior Nursing Officer of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital said since 1950, tobacco has killed more than 60 million people in developed countries where smoking prevalence started 10 to 20 years earlier than developing countries. In 1998 alone, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that four million people died worldwide from tobacco-related diseases and it is estimated that seven percent of all deaths are due to tobacco. "We must prevent young children from ever starting to use tobacco products and assist those who currently use tobacco to quit," he stated, adding that, it will cost next to nothing for preventing young people to start using tobacco products by way of health educational films show on the dangers of tobacco. Mr. Edwin called on churches, decision makers advocates and country leaders working together to stop the spread of the deadly epidemic.

In his welcoming address, Mr. Labaran Musah, Acting Deputy General Secretary of the GMA said the main reason why the academy was organizing the programme was to create an awareness for the public on the need for them to abstain from smoking. He called on parents to do everything possible to ensure that their wards are given proper care for them to refrain from smoking.