Tanzania: How Smoking Curbs Economic Development



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By Lydia Shekighenda

MAIME Mushomi, a father of four, resides in the village of Lugine in Kiteto District, Manyara Region. Unfortunately, he is currently undergoing treatment at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Mushomi, 55 has been a habitual smoker for more than three decades, only to be forced to give up the habit After being diagnosed with the disease

Give his own account, he said that He began smoking for 20 years as a "refreshment" while taking a rest with friends.

He did not know that he was playing with his One day he would be forced to spend all his resources in the corridors of hospitals.

To compensate for the habit that never paid him anything except to enslave and chain him into such an institution in search of medical remedies without alternative to come. The man who is farmer says that he has been smoking for about 35 years. He apparently felt physically fit and never saw any sign of being sick.

"I smoked up to five rolls of tobacco a day and several cigars when I was in a meeting … I had never thought of stopping.

Except that when I am broke and the habit starts again every time I have money, "he pointed out in a regrettable voice suggesting remorse. [19659009] He adds that he has never suggested that a health hazard would be registered. His lifestyle taking or taking tobacco.

Because he always encountered d & # 39; Other smokers in his community who were in good physical shape. "I started to notice changes in my health, including severe pain every time I took meals.

I thought it was just a minor problem, but it got worse over the days and it forced me to see a doctor. 19659007] Mushomi hinted that he forced her to visit several hospitals, including Mvumi in Dodoma, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) and later the Ocean Road Cancer Institute where he was diagnosed with Cancer. When my health deteriorated, it was hard to believe that the illness I was suffering from was due to hot flashes, "he said.

He said that he had heard people talk about poor health in their lives. lives as a result of smoking. But they were adamant about giving up the habit with consolations that they are physically fit.

"Eight months have pbaded since I got sick and I spent a lot of money traveling, visiting different health facilities to get good health back After even selling some of my goods to pay them in vain, "he said further.

The situation of Mr. Mushomi made him fail to lead his family as before. But depend solely on his parents for all kinds of alms to take care of them.

Despite being a chain smoker for decades no children of Mushomi also have the habit of smoking. Which gives him hope that once they will forgive him and take care of him.

In addition, he calls on individuals and institutions as well as the government to carry out mbadive campaigns to educate people about the health risks of tobacco. This will prevent the next generation from falling into the same trap.

Going on behalf of Maime Samwel, her relative, who lives in Songambele Village, Kiteto District, Mushomi's disease caused her to stop her economic activities.

"I spent a lot of time and resources searching for drugs with him in various health facilities

after the doctors diagnosed him with the disease," he said. I've stopped my things that remind my family since last March, when my brother got sick and I have difficulties because I have to take care of him and my family, "he says with regret. He further says that he spends a minimum of about 5,000 / – a day for his food and his price.

And that brings them collectively to live under the bread line, hopelessly to recover soon. "My brother sold just about everything he owned to pay his medical bills.

And that's not enough yet because he's still waiting to receive lean family support" , he added. Doctors told them that his illness was badociated with prolonged dependence on tobacco.

And convincing him to give up the habit has been a lost battle, he says. Tobacco use is very high in his region and many require the government to educate the public and the public about its health risks.

The Executive Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Prof. Mohamed Janabi said that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including tobacco-related diseases, weigh heavily on the government.

He says the health risks are many and points out that it includes a patient whose coronary arteries have been affected.

Spend at least $ 3 million to pay medical bills, which represents a burden on the government, society, and the individual.

For his part, the director of cancer prevention services of Ontario. Dr. Crispin Kahesa, of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, said the budget for cancer-related illnesses has increased over previous years.

He says in the previous budget that cancer drugs Tobacco use was 700m / -, but currently it has climbed to 7bn / -.

He further says that the government would be required to increase budgets for its treatment with new reported cases that are steadily increasing. Lutgard Kagaruki, executive director of the Forum on Tobacco Control, discusses the theme of World Health Organization (WHO) World Tobacco Day: tobacco, a threat to development, says that no country has ever prospered. Trade has declined considerably in developed countries, forcing international tobacco companies to turn to developing countries to support their business.

For example, she says, Malawi, a leading tobacco producer in sub-Saharan Africa, has become almost a desert in the wake of cutting trees to cure tobacco.

Similarly, the region of Tabora, a major tobacco producer in Tanzania, has lost its forests. More than 20 billion dollars were spent on tobacco cure between 2010 and 2011, adding that: "While the average per capita income of a Tanzanian is 362,000 and that of a Tabora farmer , of 297 000. "

(WHO) established the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) whose main objective was to protect present and future generations from health consequences, devastating economic, social and environmental impacts of tobacco use and exposure to smoke.

She says that countries that have implemented the FCTC have actually had lower rates of smoking. Including the reduction of tobacco-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and lung diseases, which are the main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Ms. Kagaruki therefore calls on the government to put in place effective legislation on tobacco control.

A 2009 survey conducted at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) and at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) showed that tobacco treatment related cancers cost the country more than 89bn / – per year; while another study conducted independently at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in 2014 indicated that treatment of tobacco-related cardiovascular disease cost the country more than $ 400 billion / year

"These studies were limited to ORCI and MNH, implying that the costs for treatment of noncommunicable diseases in all health facilities in the country had to be calculated, it is obvious that the costs that would result would be enormous, "said Ms. Kagaruki [19659035] var FBIsLoaded = false;
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