You are here: HomeNewsRegional2021 06 17Article 448822

General News of Thursday, 17 June 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

8 million people die annually from tobacco use - Expert

Tobacco Tobacco

The Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, (CAPPA), Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi has stated that about 8 million people die yearly from the use of tobacco, and if nothing is done to reverse or stop the epidemic, tobacco-related deaths could rise to 10 million yearly by 2030.

Oluwafemi stated that out of the 8 million deaths, 1.3 million are non-smokers who have been exposed to secondhand smoke.

He also added that exposure to smoking on screen has a great influence on kids taking up the smoking habit.

Oluwafemi made the statement at the stakeholders’ summit on 'Smoking In Movies' organised by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa at Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

“We strongly think that going beyond enforcing the law, as stakeholders, it is now time for us to start the discourse on some basic Code of Conduct for the industry as it relates to smoking in movies. There are areas we want stakeholders here present to consider.

“They include an adult rating for films with smoking scenes, strong anti-smoking adverts, anti-smoking health warnings, certify payoffs, stopping identification of tobacco brands, a total ban on tobacco products placement and stop glamourisation of smoking,” he said.

The task before the participants at the summit was how to understand the provisions of the law, how practitioners who are concerned about public health, economic and other costs of tobacco consumption will be active in the smoke-free Nollywood initiative.