Future Health

The World Health Organisation has revealed that no fewer than 146 million Africans die annually from tobacco related disease. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said this on Thursday during a virtual press conference. Moeti said tobacco was the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world and emphasised that “smoking damages nearly every organ in the body.” The director also said that “globally, exposure to secondhand smoke kills more than 1.2 million people yearly.” She explained that the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as vaporizers, was on the increase in Africa. Moeti said that quitting tobacco was the way to reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases, noting that it would also increase one’s life expectancy...