A senior Director in the ministry of public health and
sanitation has urged policy makers, law enforcers and the
general public to fight tobacco smoking in a bid to have a
healthier population. Speaking in a media briefing, Dr William
Maina the Head of Non-Communicable Diseases Department at the
Ministry of Public Health and sanitation strongly condemned
cigarette smoking saying the habit leads to dependency due to
the nicotine ingredient in tobacco products. Dr. Maina revealed
that 8 billion sticks of cigarette are smoked annually in Kenya.
Each costing sh5. This is approximately 40 billion shillings
puffed up in Kenya. “Tobacco use causes chronic diseases such as
stroke, cancer, diabetes, bronchitis, asthma and others,” Said
Dr Main. “Over 600 people die every year from tobacco related
ailments.” Dr Maina added that one out of five of every male
adult is a smoker exposing themselves to harmful effects of the
product. He added that the smoking habit is also creeping to
school going children. He stated that a