Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has called for an effective policy framework to check tobacco consumption and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases in the country.
The governor made the call in a message to commemorate the `World No Tobacco Day’ marked by the World Health Organisation and other agencies of the United Nations, which is usually commemorated on May 31.
The day is to raise awareness and check the consumption of tobacco.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, on Thursday, the governor called for more awareness and sensitisation in the country on the dangers of tobacco consumption.
It stated: “As a government, we will continue to support policies to check the increase in cardiovascular diseases associated with the consumption of tobacco.
“Through the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP), the proposed health insurance scheme and other health interventions will assist in providing access to quality and affordable healthcare services.’’
He said that this year’s theme for the commemoration, “Tobacco and Lung Health,’’ calls for urgent measures to interrogate the implications of tobacco use and cardiovascular conditions.
According to WHO, the focus of the World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on tobacco and lung health.
The campaign will increase awareness on the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, and the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people.
