By Neba-Fuh
Today, May 31 is observed the world over as "World No Tobacco Day". A day set aside to highlight the health hazards caused by tobacco products. The theme this year is "Tobacco Health Warnings".
The hypocrisy surrounding the addictive habit of smoking is glaring in any part of the world you find yourself.
The increase in the cases of lung cancer and other cancers, defective births and other despicable diseases caused as a result of smoking have not reduced the rate of smoking the world over. Each of us has either been involved or affected by smoking and therefore, we owe society the good of taking responsibility in contributing through experience or scholarship, our quota in discouraging this addictive habit that has held most people of this world hostage, especially the younger generation.
As adults, what are we doing to discourage vulnerable young people from picking up the habit of smoking? Are our actions exemplary?
What can we say about the woman whom you see everyday on your street pushing a wagon with a baby inside blowing pockets of smoke on the poor baby ?
Or countries that showcase their application of the right of the child by emphasizing that young people can start smoking immediately they attain the age of 18?
Or parents puffing smoke from a cigarette or cigar in front their under-aged kids, but expecting a bill board caption of "Smoking Kills" to deter them from picking up the habit at later age?
Or the 'famous' law in an African country banning smoking on the streets while desperate citizens resort to opening up kiosks still on those streets so that addicts can pay some shillings, get in and smoke, in a bid to avoid corrupt policemen who will not spare defaulters, by obtaining bribes from them?
Tobacco is like arms. Everybody knows that arms are used for killing, and most people dread dead, but the world can't live without them.
Tobacco is the only product in this world which defiles the 'the principle of negative publicity'. A worrying situation indeed, that has continually affected the younger generation, aggravated by adults who rarely play the role of protectors and counsellors on this important topic of narcotics and the effects.
The tobacco duty free shops in most major airports attract the most customers despite highlighted captions like:
Comments