The Central Regional Director for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ms. Francisca Abena Asubonteng Anokye, has cautioned the public that tobacco consumption remains dangerous to health, irrespective of emerging trends and new products on the market.
Ms. Anokye made this remarks in a sensitization outreach at Amamoma, a suburb of Cape Coast to earmark this year’s World No Tobacco Day celebration dubbed, “Unmarking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”
She said the Authority is concerned about the rising use of flavoured tobacco, shisha, and other novel tobacco products among people who perceive them as safer alternatives.
“Let me be clear: consuming tobacco is dangerous irrespective of the new trend, whether it is cigarettes, shisha, vaping products, or any flavoured variant, the health risks are real. These products contains harmful chemicals that damage the lungs, heart, and other organs.” she said.
She noted that tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable diseases such as cancer, respiratory illnesses, and heart conditions and warned that addiction to nicotine often starts early and becomes difficult to break.
Ms. Francisca Anokye elaborated on the risks and discouraged the misconception that newer forms of tobacco are harmless to stress that the FDA will intensify its public education and market surveillance to curb the sale of unapproved tobacco products.
The Central Regional FDA Director encouraged anyone struggling with tobacco addiction to seek help from health professionals and support services.
The sensitization forms part of the FDA’s regional activities under the campaign to reduce tobacco use and promote public health.
