It is an established fact that tobacco consumption is a major cause of death worldwide. Unlike HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis that are caused by microorganisms, tobacco – related diseases are man-made.
The Vector (tobacco industry, causing the tobacco epidemic) produces agents (tobacco products) that cause immediate pleasurable effects to the host (humans) followed by short and long term devastating health consequences. Some of the tobacco-related diseases include lung cancer and some other cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), stroke, ischaemic heart disease, impotence to mention but a few.
The WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) is a treaty with an overall objective of protecting present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke; and to reduce continually and substantially the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The domestication of the WHO FCTC by most developed countries to protect their citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco, has translated to marked reduction in tobacco consumption in these countries. The effect of which is the migration of tobacco companies to developing countries where there is no effective legislation to curb their activities.
The components of the FCTC include; taxation on tobacco products that is continuously adjusted to the annual inflation rate, smoke-free public places, health warnings on tobacco products-to include pictures or pictograms on cigarette packages, ban on advertisement, promotion or sponsorships by tobacco companies, regulation of tobacco products, tobacco products disclosures e.t.c.
About 168 countries including Nigeria are signatories or parties to the FCTC. While Nigeria is yet to fully domesticate the FCTC, South Africa, a fellow African country has one of the most comprehensive tobacco control policies in the world.
The Nigeria National Tobacco Control Bill which is one of the efforts geared towards the domestication of the FCTC in Nigeria will soon be presented to the House plenary session by the Senate Committee on health.
The tobacco industry is the major challenge to the FCTC implementation. The industry comes up with different tactics to frustrate the passage of a bill such as this. One of their strategies is to come up with erroneous arguments either directly or indirectly by lobbying legislators, scientists and even journalists to counter the passage of the anti-smoking bill.
Tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke (passive smoking) can cause premature deaths. All stakeholders should support the implementation and enforcement of this bill to help prevent our youths from starting a health-damaging behavior; help current smokers quit; protect non-smokers including children and workers at bars and restaurants from the harmful effects of second hand smoking; generally improve the health of Nigerians and prevent millions of deaths globally.
