A general physician, Dr Tolu Oladapo, on Monday in Ibadan warned against smoking near children, saying it exposes them to serious health hazards.
Oladapo, of Hopeville Hospital and Maternity, Ibadan said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“Public smoking is not just a public health menace but it also exposes children to smoke that can cause asthma and pneumonia.
“Exposing children to cigarette or tobacco smoke can cause diseases, disability, and death.
“Children who are exposed to secondhand smoking have increased chances of developing serious health conditions.
“Some of such conditions include asthma, chronic coughs, slow lung growth and development as well as pneumonia,” she said.
Oladapo said that children who grow up with parents who smoke are themselves more likely to smoke.
“Children and teens who smoke are affected by the same health problems that affect adults who smoke,” she said.
According to World Health Organisation, (WHO) second-hand smoking is the smoke that fills enclosed space when people burn tobacco products such as cigarettes and water pipes.
The UN Agency therefore warns that there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. (NAN)