As part of the efforts to protect future generations and improve the health status of the people in Kano State, the state government has kicked against smoking in public places.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, while speaking during a press briefing held on Monday at Kano Ministry of Health to commemorate the World NO Tobacco Day (WNTD), disclosed that the state government is working tirelessly to make sure that the rate of smoking in the state is reduced.
Tsanyawa said the new development was part of the move to fight the tobacco epidemic as Nigeria estimates more than 16,100 annual death from tobacco-related diseases.
He added that the state government has contributed a lot of resources to the control of non-communicable diseases in the state such as hypertension, sickle cell diseases, asthma, and tobacco-related lung diseases such as cancers among others.
“We have an act that specifically talks about the ban of smoking in public places and to also stop the selling of it to children less than 18 years. Also, the Government will keep sensitizing the public to understand the risk of smoking and why they should quit smoking,” he stated.
The commissioner revealed that there is currently a bill before the State House of Assembly to establish an agency called “Drug Abuse Control Agency” which will be saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the rate of drug abuse is reduced in the state.
Tsanyawa reiterated that the state government will ensure that the agency when established, work hand in hand with other stakeholders to control drug abuse in the state