Editorial
Media, FDA must not relent in fight against secondhand smoking
Secondhand smoke poses grave danger to the health of non smokers
Dear Editor,
As I walk through public spaces, I’m reminded of the lingering threat of secondhand smoke.
Despite the progress in anti-smoking campaigns, innocent bystanders continue to suffer from the harmful effects of secondhand smoking.
The facts are alarming.
Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are carcinogenic.
Tobacco use in Ghana is said to result in over 6,700 deaths annually with related illness accounting for 3 per cent deaths in the country.
These includes cancers, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory conditions.
According to the Centre for Disease Control Prevention, a 100 per cent smoke-free and tobacco-free environment is the most comprehensive approach to ensure health and safety.
Children are particularly vulnerable, with increased risk of asthma, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke face higher risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
To protect public health, there should be stricter enforcement of smoke-free laws initiated by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in public spaces.
Smoking at these public places such as pubs, restaurants, work places, supermarkets, children’s playground and hospitals should be discourage and culprit punished to serve as deterrent to others.
The media should also increase awareness campaigns highlighting secondhand smoke risks.
We must prioritise the health and well-being of nonsmokers to ensure a healthy environment by partnering the FDA to stop secondhand smoking.
It is a collective responsibility and we must all come on board to support the FDA to address this concern in the country.
Anita Nyarko-Yirenkyi,
Accra
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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