ARTICLE 10
By: Sulayman Lecturer Darboe
TITTLE: TOBACCO-HUMAN'S LIVING ENEMY
The direct or indirect dealing with Tobacco could be characterized in the daily routine of most Gambians of our generation. As a result, Tobacco usage has deep-rooted effect in our society even though the eye-opened consequences it linger down are clearly seen at almost every blink of an eye, both in once's hood of dwelling or another's .
Globally, Tobacco is the only legal product that is sold and in entirety, causes drastic and immeasurable consequences to one's social and economic wellbeing. This could be evidenced by the presence of numerous users of Tobacco in our society with attributes of social and economic implications.
It is globally proven by World Health Organization and partners towards health advancement that Tobacco burden globally is extremely scary and disastrous. Tobacco kills about 7 million people annually and about 600,000 die as a result of passive smoking. This is scary and threatening in the context of Gambian societies where almost everyone is expose to second-hand smoking. The best way to avoid this great figures of death could simply be to completely avoid Tobacco usage.
Away from the scary figures of annual deaths, the diseases which facilitate the deaths would equally be paramount and ought to be explained. In The Gambia, Tobacco causes majorly four (4) different health complications but surpasses this number. This complications include but not limited to: hypertension, diabetes, cancers(of different kinds), and chronic respiratory diseases. This complications results to the death of many people globally and sowed many socio-economic complications.
Apart from taking lives through diseases and other related factors, tobacco usage has series of negative results in the wellbeing of those living, and the country at large . From an unexpected deaths, increase in criminal acts, increase of widows in number, decrease in a country's workforce and also making some men impotent are all negative red lines drawn by Tobacco usage.
To speak comfortably about Tobacco is complicated in make-up hence the world's most powerful countries are ones majorly involved in the processing and shipping of Tobacco for consumption. However, what is certain and also globally accepted by even those involve in processing it remain that: Tobacco has no importance to human body but rather, destroys it in entirety. It kills!
In conclusion , The Gambia as a nation through Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and satellite organizations in close efforts, documented an act called "Tobacco Control Act 2016" to control the usage of tobacco under the guidance of law by making and smartly giving guidelines as to how certain issues regarding tobacco usage should be carried out as regulated in the regulations 2019. This act should be acquired, loved and appreciated by all and sundry to help in the crusade towards making The Gambia as a nation a tobacco-free country. The Gambia with such a small population cannot continue to afford losing souls of essence or would-be, to the achievement of our development priorities. Tobacco is with us, it is living. We can only fight it together. Let the crusade starts!
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