Niger’s young people have been given a clear strong message on the dangers of smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic. While there were various ways to reduce their risk, the bst solution was to quit smoking altogether.
The messages were delivered during a conference that focused on smoking, COVID-19 for young people. It was held on February 17, 2021 and forms part of the in country COVID-19 activities that are being sponsored by the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa. The conference was well attended by the National Youth Council.
The conference was hosted by the Nigerien Ministry of Health. Speakers included Dr Hanki Yahaya, an infectious disease physician at Niamey National Hospital and a member of the National Commission for the Management of COVID 19 as well as Dr. Alfazazi Soumana, respiratory physician, Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Programme and Dr Tinni Aboubacar, Coordinator of the National Programme for the Control of NonCommunicable Diseases.
Niger’s Tobacco Control Focal Point, Mr Bawa Dan Jimo, who is also acting in the Niger Health Department’s Health Education position, welcomed the young people.
During the conference, young people were given an update on the current situation of COVID 19 in Niger. The first COVID-19 case was recorded on March 19, 2020. By the time the conference was held, there were more than 4700 cases, and 169 deaths.
Yahaya reiterated how the public health safety measures that have been encouraged by the World Health Organisation, such as wearing masks, washing hands regularly and physical distancing needed to be maintained.
He also told the young people the vaccination programme around the world gave the real hope of interrupting the chain of transmission of Covid-19.
Soumana, engaged the young people about smoking, respiratory diseases and COVID-19. He said COVID-19 as a new pandemic has claimed more than one million lives while tobacco kills some eight million people each year worldwide. As a result, he noted, tobacco is recognized as the main risk factor for many respiratory diseases, so smokers are at risk of the most severe forms of COVID-19.
There were ways to reduce the risk of the consequences of the association of smoking and COVID-19. These included not to smoke in a group; not sharing tobacco smoking accessories, such as smoking vaporizers or pipes or cigarettes and by cutting down on the amount of time you smoke or quitting completely. Stopping, he said, was the only solution.
Aboubacar outlined the main non-communicable diseases in Niger.
In terms of the cardiovascular diseases , about 21% of the population suffered from high blood pressure, while 42,5% developed cancers and 4,3% developed diabetes. Tobacco is a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases along with physical inactivity, poor diets and drinking, said Aboubacar.
These were all aggravating factors in COVID-19.
Aboubacar also focused on ways to prevent these diseases. This included consuming less salt, less sugar and fat, and especially not tobacco and alcohol. He also reminded participants of the importance of playing sports and eating fruit.
During the question and answer session, the young people had a variety of questions. This included how could the government help smokers quit, why it did not just ban the importation of tobacco products. In terms of COVID-19, they were keen to understand the spread of COVID-19 on the public transport system and wanted more explanations of the variants of COVID-19 (English and South African)? Was the vaccine reliable and did Niger have vaccines?