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By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Nigeria’s Kaduna based NGO, Eye Opener Women and Youth Foundation (EOWYF), has again won the 2022, World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) for West Africa. The foundation is winning the prestigious international award for the second time in West Africa. It first won the award in 2021.
The colorful award ceremony took place in Abuja, the federal capital territory under the supervision of the Minister of health who was represented by the Minister of state for health Dr. Olorunnombe Mamora.
Speaking to our correspondent in Kaduna shortly after receiving the award in Abuja, the founder and coordinator, Mrs. Margret Julius said the Foundation had done a lot in the area of tobacco smoking preventive measures over the years in Kaduna and other parts of the states.
Some of the measures taken, according to the founder, included street and community campaign, town hall and community leaders sensitization meeting against tobacco smoking as well as setting up and establishment of tobacco and substance abstinence clubs in nurseries and primary schools within and out of Kaduna state.
Mrs. Julius stressed the need for sensitization and early exposure of children to dangers of tobacco smoking and substances because of peer group influence and parental smokers, adding that through tobacco abstinence clubs she uncovered adult claiming ignorant of its danger until they become addicted. Some claimed that until the dangers of smoking on the liver displayed on cigarette packet recently they hardly believed of the purported causes of cancer among other tobacco related diseases.
The awardee expressed gratitude to the organisers of the ceremony and promised to intensify her campaign against dangers of tobacco until she achieves prohibition law.
She further appealled to international donors, spirited individuals and cooperate organisations in Nigeria for funding and support to boost her campaign.