Geoffrey Omongin
12 August 2007
Kampala — THE use of tobacco products has been the number one self-induced cause of illness in Uganda. Research has shown that smoking is associated to both heart and respiratory diseases, yet many people hold onto the habit.
While the number of smokers over the age of 21 decreases, the number of those under 17 increases. Many teenagers are not bothered by the risks of smoking.
Since the 1960s, the US has sponsored a great deal of research into the dangers of tobacco use. In 1964, the United States Congress passed a law requiring that packages of cigarettes carry warnings and in 1984, the Congress passed a comprehensive Education Act on tobacco products. The Act requires tobacco companies to include the following warning labels on cigarette packages: Smoking causes lung cancer, heart diseases, emphysema and may complicate pregnancy.
Smoking by a pregnant woman may result into foetal injury, premature and low birth weight.
Cigarette smoke contains carbonmonoxide
Studies have shown that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
Marijuana smokers face an even greater risk because they often inhale the smoke more deeply and hold it in their lungs.
One is also at the risk of getting circulatory related diseases which may be brought by nicotine.
Nicotine acts as a stimulant, it makes the heart to beat faster than it should and narrows the blood vessels, this leads to rise in the blood pressure. The heart must pump harder in order to move blood through the vessels, this strains the circulatory system and contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Some Ugandans live below the poverty line because of addiction to smoking. Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risks to health.
The Government once announced a ban on public smoking. However, it has not been operational because many smokers still smoke publicly at the expense of the non-smokers.
The Government should implement the ban on public smoking and anybody found smoking in public should be heavily punished.
A law regulating public smoking should be enacted to reduce the cases of tobacco-related diseases.
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