Stop Smoking Way

The Federal Government has been called upon to ban smoking in public places in order to stem the growing incidence of heart related diseases in the country.

Making the call at a press conference to mark the 2008 World Heart Day at the week end in Lagos, the chairman, Novartis Cardiovascular Advisory Board of Nigeria, Prof. Ayodele Omotoso, and vice president of Nigeria Hypertension Society, Prof. Wale Oke, said government should as a matter of urgency prohibit the habit of smoking in public places as cardiovascular experts have discovered effect of smoking is more harmful to non smokers than actual smokers.

According to Omotoso and Oke , smoke puffed out by a smoker and inhaled by an unsuspecting non smoker has been found to cause more serious heart diseases to the non smoker than the smoker. They said heart diseases were the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in most African countries, including Nigeria.

” As more and more Nigerians are now found to be suffering from cardiovascular diseases, we would use this opportunity of the 2008 World Heart Day to call on the Federal Government to as matter of urgency ban smoking in all public places to save Nigerians who are yet to get heart related diseases from getting them. This is because cigarette smoking causes more harm to non smokers even more than it causes to the smokers. So, this why even Nigerians who are non smokers are at greater risk of getting the diseases from smoke puff out by the smokers”, said Prof. Omotoso.

“Chain smokers, especially those who smoke at public places, not only expose themselves to the risk factor for heart diseases but also expose innocent Nigerians to the risk of getting the diseases. This is why the government should please enact a law prohibiting smoking in public places throughout the country. They should also do something about cigarette sales in public places”, said Prof. Oke.

The cardiovascular experts also called on the government to establish a national heart centre to help reduce the growing rate of the heart diseases in the country.

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