By Neo Kolane
In a bid to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use, the world commemorated World No Tobacco Day on Monday this week, under the theme ‘Commit to Quit’.
This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the WHO is doing to fight against the use of tobacco, and what people around.
Addressing the nation yesterday, the minister of health, Semano Sekatle said it is the day when people need to stop smoking cigarettes.
Sekatle revealed that six million people lose their lives yearly due to diseases related to smoking.
He added that smoking is dangerous to both the user and the people surrounding them, but mostly smoking causes many diseases as it affects the lungs which end up not working at their full capacity.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic people who use tobacco die in large numbers compared to those who don’t; if they do not die, they develop severe illnesses.
“Education in schools should include the teaching of tobacco use and it should be taught in depth, not for knowledge purposes only but also as part of the curriculum on diseases so as to avoid crowded areas at health facilities.”
Diseases caused tobacco use include all cancer types, lung malfunction leading to difficulty in breathing, high blood pressure and lowering of the immune system.
