Eko Hospital Alerts to Rising Cases of Smoking-Related Diseases

Eko Hospital has alerted on the rising cases of smoking-related illnesses in the country even as it advised Nigerians to stop smoking, as it would lead to lung cancer infections, kidney diseases, among other diseases.

Officials of the Hospital, at the Stop Smoking Programme, held in Ikeja, Lagos, said they are worried by the increase of smoking in the society and to support the World Health Organization (WHO), slogan and campaigns that smokers are liable to die young

They said that smoking of cigarette and India hemp have become common among the children in schools especially, those in higher institutions.

Chief Medical Director, EKO Hospital, Dr. Olusegun Odukoya, said smoking causes health hazard and it affects almost organs of the body. He said there is need for people to be educated on dangers of smoking especially smokers at motor parks and market places.

Odukoya said: "Smoking has been found to harm every organs in the body and diminishes one's overall health. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. It causes cancer of the lungs lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, cervix, colon and rectum, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.