By Emmanuel Nduka
Health experts have disclosed that as much as eight million people die annually from tobacco smoking, and could reach 10 million annually by 2030 if not checked.
This is according to the Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi.
Oluwafemi who spoke on Thursday at the Stakeholders’ Summit on Smoking in Movies in Ikeja, Lagos, said of the eight million deaths, 1.3million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke, adding that exposure to smoking on screen has great influence on kids taking up the smoking habit.
He stated that with tobacco advertising ban now in place in most countries, the tobacco industry is now embracing more secret platforms to keep their products in the hearts and minds of potential customers.
“We strongly think that going beyond enforcing the law, as stakeholders, it is now time for us to start the discourse on some basic Code of Conduct for the industry as it relates to smoking in movies. There are areas we want stakeholders here present to consider.
“They include adult rating for films with smoking scenes, strong anti-smoking adverts, anti-smoking health warnings, certify pay offs, stopping identification of tobacco brands, total ban on tobacco products placement and stop glamourisation of smoking,” he said.
Participants at the summit were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Tobacco Free Kids, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Films and Video Censors Board, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, as well as Nollywood actors and actresses.
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