Desist from smoking in public places; tobacco smokers advised

Accra, Aug 12, GNA -- Tobacco smokers have been urged to desist from smoking at public places and among non-smokers as doing so creates health hazards for the public.

Continuous inhaling of tobacco smoke puffed out by smokers has the same health implications as active smoking.

Mrs. Edith Koryo Wellington, Senior Health Research Officer of the Health Research Unit on Tobacco Control of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) gave the advice at the weekend during a health seminar in Accra organized by the Youth Ministry of the Messiah International Bible Church (MIBC).

Mrs. Wellington said non-smokers who inhaled tobacco smoke are referred to as passive smokers or second-hand smokers as the contents of the tobacco enters their bodies.

She said, every stick of cigarette contains over 4,000 compounds including ammonia, carbon monoxide, formalin and mercury. She said it also contains over 40 carcinogens of which nicotine causes addiction, while tar and the other chemicals causes health hazards of smoking.

Touching on some of the health effects of tobacco, Mrs. Wellington noted that, it increases the heart rate, inhibits free flow of blood and oxygen in the body further increasing the risk of hypertension, strokes and heart diseases.

The Senior Health Researcher further stated that, chronic lung disease, bronchitis, swelling and rupturing of the lung's air sacs as well as predisposing one to tuberculosis are also some additional health implications.

Mrs. Wellington said tobacco smoking could lead to hair loss, mouth ulcers, rashes, hearing loss, tooth decay, stomach ulcer, deformed sperms, miscarriage and still births, among others.

Mrs. Wellington, giving statistics of tobacco smoking said, five million adults die from tobacco use each year. She added; "if current smoking patterns continue, it will cause 10 million deaths each year by 2025 of which seven million will be from developing countries".

The Senior Health Researcher advised the youth to be role models to their peers and educate their parents on the dangers of tobacco smoking. She emphasized that parents should desist from sending their children to buy cigarette, while advising them to protect them from tobacco smoke by not exposing them to it.

Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Deputy National Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of GHS, speaking on Hepatitis B said the disease could be contracted through sexual activities. She said just like AIDS, Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. She stated that, feeling of tiredness, having stomach pains; dark yellow urine, light-coloured stool, yellowish eyes and skins were some of the symptoms of the disease.

Dr Zakariah advised the public to get tested when such symptoms are observed for early treatment.

The Reverend Prince Tetteh, Youth Pastor of MIBC in a welcoming address said the seminar was organized as part of the programme lined up for the youth ministry's tenth anniversary. He said the church has observed that, tobacco smoking had become a norm among Ghanaian youth due to the ignorance of its health dangers.

He further said Christians of today take health issues for granted as most of them believe sicknesses could be cured spiritually. 12 Aug. 07