Tobacco.org

Tobacco Use Worrisome for WHO 

The Gambian born Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has asserted that the use of tobacco has only helped to entrench what he called the vicious cycle of poverty in countries particularly in Africa, where the tendency has been addictive.

Dr. Ebrahima Malick Samba said on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day recently, that the negative effects and inherent risks to health resulting from tobacco are so evident that there is now a growing body of evidence of its contribution to the entrenchment of poverty.

According to him tobacco and poverty have been inextricably linked over the years and create a vicious cycle. "Once addicted, money and resources that could be used to purchase food, education and health care is diverted towards the purchase of tobacco products," he added. He stated that it is the poorest member of the society who tends to smoke the most and bear most of the economic burn and disease of tobacco usage.

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