8,000 DIE FROM TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESSES

By Ruth Chayinda:The World Health Organization -WHO- says more than 8-thousand Zambians die annually due to tobacco-related illnesses.WHO Country Representative Nathan Bakyaita also disclosed that tobacco costs government in excess of 2.8 billion Kwacha loss in revenue accounting for 1 point 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product-GDP.WHO has further urged government to increase tobacco taxation to reduce affordability of tobacco products.He was speaking in Lusaka during the commemoration of 2019, World No Tobacco Day under theme ‘ Tobacco and Lung Health.’Meanwhile, Government said it remains committed to implementing tobacco control measures.Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has pointed out that government places premium on the reduction of tobacco use.And Dr Chilufya revealed that Zambia has continued to record an increase in tobacco use among men and that government is putting up high impact control measures aimed at leveling the prevalence.He made the remarks in a speech read for him by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama. Post Views: 2
News Source: ZNBC