Home Health FG unveils tobacco control website

FG unveils tobacco control website

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The Federal Government in collaboration with Development Gateway (DG), a data for development nonprofit organisation, has developed the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) website, which creates a “ one-stop-shop” that would allow stakeholders and the public access the relevant and up-to-date data to advance tobacco control legislation in the country.

“At least 16,100 Nigerians die annually because of illnesses linked to tobacco use. 3.2 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 49 used tobacco in 2018; and about 200,000 tobacco users are women (NDHS, 2018). While tobacco consumption globally is decreasing, by 2030 the number of smokers in Africa is anticipated to rise by nearly 40% from 2010 levels.

“This is the largest expected increase in the world; particularly alarming when juxtaposed with the fact that Nigeria is a tobacco production hub and was the third-largest exporter of cigarettes in 2018 (Africa’s Tobacco Epidemic, Tobacco Tactics, 2020).”

The organisation said the TCDI would fill in the data gap in tobacco control that would enable legislators and decision-makers to use correct data to inform public health policies.

“Certain legislative policies are proven to reduce the use of tobacco products. Through their research, the TCDI team identified common themes in the data landscape. These relate to concerns about data accuracy, comparability, timeliness, and accessibility. As a result, the TCDI team understands the data needs and gaps and has identified existing data and developed the TCDI Nigeria website that enables decision-makers to use essential data to inform tobacco control policy more effectively.”

Speaking further, the Development Gateway said the website would make use of primary and secondary data to present tobacco control information in a user-friendly format with graphs, facts and success stories.

“Together, partners co-designed a publicly available website (https://nigeria.tobaccocontroldata.org/) that aims to address key decision-making needs. The website equips stakeholders in government, civil society, academia, and the general public with reliable and up-to-date evidence to promote tobacco control and public health.

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