Health
British American Tobacco Nigeria Backs Safer Alternatives to Cigarettes
By Dipo Olowookere
As the globe marks the World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, one of the leading cigarette makers, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), has restated a commitment to its advocacy for safer alternatives to tobacco.
In a statement issued today, Legal and External Affairs Director at BATN, Mr Freddy Messanvi, noted that, “As a responsible organisation, we will continue to abide by all the laws of the countries we operate in and will constantly explore safer and new offerings to consumers as our commitment to tobacco harm reduction.”
He said in support efforts to make tobacco products safer for adult consumers, protect the environment, the company was throwing its weight behind e-cigarettes.
According to him, “e-cigarettes are a natural extension of our desired destination in harm reduction. This would represent a breakthrough and transformation of our industry as it produces vaporised nicotine without the harmful side effects from tobacco smoke.”
There is no doubt that e-cigarettes are way safer than regular cigarettes. More importantly, long-term smokers can use them as a substitute for traditional cigarettes to help in quitting the habit or, at least, switch to a less risky alternative.
Health experts and medical research findings have affirmed the much-reduced risk potential involved in the use of e-cigarettes.
In a written submission to the United Kingdom House of Commons inquiry on e-cigarettes, which examined the impact of electronic cigarettes on human health, Charity Cancer Research in the UK highlighted the benefits of e-cigarettes.
The Charity noted that: “e-cigarettes are almost certainly far safer than smoking, as they do not contain tobacco.” This inquiry followed a 2015 review published by Public Health England suggesting that vaping was around 95% less harmful than smoking tobacco.
The World No Tobacco Day is an annual occasion marked on May 31. It is the initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the intention to draw the attention of the global community to the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
‘Tobacco and Cardiovascular Diseases,’ which is the theme of the 2018 World No Tobacco Day, highlights the link between cardiovascular diseases and unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking and lack of exercise.
Over the years, WHO and multilateral health agencies have encouraged global tobacco regulations and advocacy on the potential health risks of tobacco consumption.
Aware of these risks, the tobacco industry has, for about 50 years, intensified research on ways to make tobacco products safer for adult consumers, protect the environment while ensuring that human and social capital costs are sustainable and productive. The concept of tobacco harm reduction remains a top agenda of the industry and has been vigorously explored.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, on Tuesday said the organisation regretted the decision of the United States to withdraw from it.
After his inauguration on Monday, the new US President, Mr Donald Trump, signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the global health body.
“The World Health Organisation regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization.
“The organisation hopes that Washington will change its decision.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe,” the health group stated in the statement.
This marks the second time Mr Trump has ordered the US to be pulled out of the world health body charged with global health welfare and monitoring.
Mr Trump was critical of how the international body handled COVID-19 and began the process of pulling out from the Geneva-based institution during the pandemic.
However, after Mr Trump lost to President Joe Biden in 2020, the erstwhile American president, who later reversed that decision.
With his return to office, Mr Trump, through the executive action on day one, makes it more likely the US will formally leave the global agency.
The executive order also said the withdrawal was the result of “unfairly onerous payments” the US made to the WHO, which is part of the United Nations (UN).
President Trump was critical of the organisation for being too “China-centric” in its tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused the WHO of being biased towards the Asian nation in how it issued guidance during the outbreak.
Under the Biden administration, the US continued to be the largest funder of the WHO (around 14 per cent) and in 2023, it contributed almost one-fifth of the agency’s budget.
The organisation’s annual budget is $6.8 billion.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A healthcare technology platform, DoorSpace, has announced its exit from all Meta platforms, citing value differences and company culture as reasons for the action.
Ahead of the inauguration of Mr Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America (USA) for a second term on tomorrow, Monday, January 20, 2025, Mr Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to his platforms’ fact-checking system.
“The only way that we can push back on this global trend is with the support of the US government, and that’s why it’s been so difficult over the past four years, when even the US government has pushed for censorship,” Mr Zuckerberg said in a video.
He said Meta was welcoming political discourse back on Facebook, Instagram and Threads with the new Community Notes system, which will enable users to write and rate notes that can be added onto posts.
Mr Zuckerberg explained that Meta would be working closely with Mr Trump’s upcoming administration by showing users more content that is politically charged and not checked by third-party fact checkers.
This decision of Meta did not go down well with DoorSpace, which said it has ceased any activity and would no longer spend marketing dollars to advertise on Meta platforms.
“Zuckerberg’s business decisions to rollback its fact checking system and to open up the platform to allow for misinformation, hate and bullying, especially against vulnerable minority groups, shows his lack of understanding on the importance of diversity and common decency.
“Incel culture will continue to grow and fester in that curated environment, leading to more violence against these groups in the real world,” the chief executive of DoorSpace, Ms Sarah M. Worthy, said.
“”I need to stand by my values and use my position as a healthcare tech leader to advocate for the individuals who are directly harmed in both their professional and personal lives by the hate and misinformation being spread on Zuckerberg’s platforms.
“The Meta that Zuckerberg has created has become a cesspool that sells its users’ data to the highest bidder while utilizing manipulative and dangerous tactics to keep people on the app as long as possible,” Ms Worthy added.
“Your data is not secure on their platforms, their algorithmic feed is designed to sow division and misinformation, and the company has announced that it does not view every American equally.
“There is no need for our business to spend money advertising there or any reason for our brand to maintain an active presence there anymore,” she said further.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A transformative webinar to raise awareness on postpartum depression (PPD) by nursing mothers has been organised by MSc Media and Communication students from the School of Media and Communications of the Pan-Atlantic University.
The programme titled Beyond Baby Blues: Understanding and Overcoming Postpartum Depression was held on January 7, 2025.
It was put together by the students under the Mums Feel Warmth initiative, with experts in the field invited to speak on the matter aimed at empowering mothers and fostering a sense of reassurance.
The webinar was to highlight the journey through postpartum depression, offering a message of hope, resilience, and the importance of mental health support for mothers everywhere.
One of the speakers, Dr Laja Odunuga, who is the Care Coordinator for AVON HMO, explained the difference between the common “baby blues” and the more severe, long-lasting PPD.
The discussion highlighted how PPD can manifest not just as sadness but through severe fatigue, disconnection from the newborn, and loss of interest in activities, which can last well beyond the typical two-week period associated with baby blues.
Another expert, Ms Otomfon Ibanga, the Assistant Lead Nurse for Q-Life Family Clinic, emphasised the role of support systems, urging families and friends to be vigilant for signs of PPD and to provide a nurturing environment.
She also discussed prevention strategies, including prenatal planning for support structures and post-delivery management through therapy or medication.
On his part, Dr Chimaraoke Obialo, who is the Medical Director of Life Amada Health Consultancy, addressed the stigma surrounding PPD, advocating for education to transform societal perceptions from judgement to support.
The webinar underscored the need for community involvement, not just in recognising symptoms but in actively participating in the healing process by offering emotional and practical support.
The Mums Feel Warmth webinar was more than just an educational session; it was a call to action for society to embrace and support new mothers dealing with PPD.
By fostering open conversations and providing platforms for sharing experiences, Mums Feel Warmth continues to lead the charge against the stigma of PPD.
The commitment shown by the panellists and attendees alike promises a future where every mother has access to the understanding and care needed to navigate through the complexities of postpartum depression, ensuring that the joy of motherhood is not overshadowed by mental health challenges.
Mums Feel Warmth, with its core values of empathy, compassion, hope, community, and education, speaks to the Sustainable Development Goal 3, advocating for good health and well-being.
The initiative is breaking the silence around PPD, a condition that can significantly impact new mothers in the critical period following childbirth.
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