Nigeria: Tobacco Bill Needed to Manage Hypertension - Minister

Source from:  Daily Trust  04/11/2013

The minister of state for Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for the passage of the tobacco bill to regulate the use of tobacco and halt increase of non communicable diseases.

Pate, who spoke at a press briefing to commemorate the World Health Day yesterday said absence of a tobacco bill has not helped fight to reduce non communicable disease.

"Tobacco bill is key. It's one of the important legacies we can bequeath to Nigerians before the next World Health Day. It will prevent needless deaths and diseases in future," he said.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Fatimah Bamidele said hospital records show that one out of every four Nigerian adults is hypertensive. Enditem