Thursday, 16 October 2014

6.4m Nigerian adults are exposed to tobacco smoke

Abuja - The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta) said on Wednesday that statistics had shown that about 6.4 million Nigerians were exposed to tobacco smoke in restaurants while 5.6 per cent used its products.

This was announced Okowa at a public hearing to consider the harmonised National Tobacco Control Bill (Senate Bill) 2012 and 2014 Executive Bill.

Okowa, who attributed the statistics to the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, further disclosed that about 600 000 people die annually globally from second hand tobacco smoke.

He said it was in view of the alarming negative effect of tobacco on peoples’ health that the Senate decided to hold a public hearing.

According to him, the bill will provide the legal framework for the control of production, manufacture, sale, labelling and advertising, promotion, sponsorship and use of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke.

The chairman further said the bill  would provide for the prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship as well as regulation of tobacco products.

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