The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has called on Nigerians to support and promote a healthy, tobacco-free environment for the optimal growth and development of the world’s children.
Prof. Edwin Eseigbe, the Project Director/Chairman, PAN Tobacco-Free Initiatives, said this in a statement on Tuesday, March 21, 2022, in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 World No Tobacco Day, with theme: “Tobacco: Threat to our Environment”.
He said the association identified with this year’s theme and supports a tobacco-free environment for children through its Nigeria Tobacco-Free School Initiative.
He explained that this was aimed at promoting a healthful environment against tobacco use and exposure in Nigerian schools and school population.
“PAN joins the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in celebrating the World No Tobacco Day 2022.
“PAN urges all to support and propagate a healthy, tobacco-free, environment for the optimal growth and development of the world’s children.’’
World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31, to raise awareness about the damage caused by consuming tobacco.
Tobacco consumption is one of the factors that are believed to adversely impact the efforts to achieve the UN–adopted sustainable development agenda by 2030, which aims to reduce tobacco-related deaths by one-third by that time.
By Tosin Kolade
