Pregnant women have been cautioned against smoking due to its serious health risks to an unborn baby, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and infant death.
Madam Ama Gyankoma Asirifi, a Health Promotion Officer at the Bono Regional Health Directorate, gave the warning in an interview with Sky News over the weekend during a public sensitisation campaign on the dangers of tobacco and drug abuse.
“Smoking during pregnancy endangers not only the mother but also the unborn baby. It increases the risk of complications, including stillbirth and developmental problems.” she said.
Madam Asirifi also advised students to stay away from smoking and drug use, noting that tobacco contains over 100 harmful chemicals. “About 40 per cent of active smokers suffer serious health issues such as diabetes and chronic infections,” she added.
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In a related interview, Mrs. Francisca Patoah Gyarko, Bono Regional Principal Regulatory Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), said the increasing involvement of students in drug use is worrying.
She warned that tobacco use is a major cause of several cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, bladder, and pancreas. “It also significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions,” she said.
The call comes as part of a broader campaign to mark World No Tobacco Day, which seeks to raise awareness of the health risks of tobacco and expose the tactics of the tobacco industry targeting the youth.
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