By ACHADU GABRIEL, Kaduna
As anti smoking campaign is intensified across the globe and Nigeria in particular, youth Tobacco Abstinence Clubs (TAC) have continued to spring up in schools and communities across Kaduna State, courtesy of Eye Opener Women and Youth Foundation.
On Tuesday alone, two secondary schools inaugurated their own tobacco abstinence clubs in Kaduna State.
The schools include Government Secondary School (GSS), Kakuri and that of Nasarawa area of Kaduna South LG of the state.
The inauguration was conducted by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), member and Youth Ambassador of tobacco abstinence club of the Eye Opener Women and Youth Foundation, Mr. Mabia Uchechukwu Christian.
Shortly before the inauguration in their separate schools, the over 300 male and female students were thoroughly sensitized by Mr. Uchechukwu Christian on the dangers of tobacco smoking, associated with human health and need for abstinence.
According to the foundation’s Ambassador, there are lots of hazards and health challenges associated with tobacco smoking l which include lung disease, cancer, heart disease and others, too numerous to mention.
He also told the students in their final year that preventive measures are better than curative for tobacco diseases that maybe so expensive to bear, hence the need for early sensitization on anti tobacco smoking campaign.
However, when the floor was thrown open for questions and answer session, some of the students admitted being cigarette smokers, sparking surprises, which led to a lengthy discussion as female students propped on their male colleagues who engage in the habit.
Many of the students however, later declared to join the tobacco abstinence club, and registered and were inaugurated instantly as the ambassador revealed that more of the club are going to open in more schools to continue with sensitization and anti tobacco campaign.
