“Nigeria to Learn from Sweden’s Approach In Reducing Smoking Related Death ”Say Experts
Nigerian public health experts are championing a new strategy that could prevent over 416,000 smoking-related deaths in the country by 2060.
Making it known to the media by THR reporting Nigeria on Monday ,the dialogue, themed Rethinking Our Approach Can Nigeria Quit Like Sweden??? held in Abuja.
During a high-level policy dialogue on Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) held in Abuja, Dr. Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, a public health experts said the shift in strategy is urgently needed .
“The conversation is no longer just about telling people to quit, it’s about providing them with safer, scientifically-backed alternatives if they cannot quit entirely,” .
“Tobacco harm reduction works by helping people who still smoke switch to safer nicotine alternatives instead of continuing to use cigarettes. That way, fewer people die from smoking-related diseases.”Adebisi added
In his remark Suely Castro, Director of Quit Like Sweden agreed that Nigeria must find its own path
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“Sweden’s approach to Tobacco Harm Reduction shouldn’t be used as the standard for measuring Nigeria’s progress,” .
“We are not the same country; our cultures, lifestyles, populations, and health systems are different. But Nigeria can still take a cue from Sweden that fits her own country’s reality.”
Castro stressed that for harm-reduction policies to work in Nigeria, they must be rooted in local data, cultural understanding, and public trust.
However Uche Olatunji, a public health advocate, emphasized that awareness campaigns must target young Nigerians with clear, honest information to empower healthier choices.
Professor Martin Ike-Muonso highlighted the critical role of traditional and religious leaders.
“If our traditional and religious leaders understand and educate their followers about the risks of smoking and the benefits of safer alternatives, it becomes easier to correct misinformation,” he said.
In his part evidence-Based Regulation, Gabriel Oke of the Tobacco Harm Reduction said Journalists need to underscored the clear, fact-based communication on THR .
He also urged the government to create space for research and innovation on reduced-risk products.
Pulse Time Nigeria reports that,With approximately 3.5 million adult smokers in Nigeria, tobacco is responsible for an estimated 26,851 to 28,876 deaths annually, placing a massive strain on the nation’s healthcare system.
Recent analyses reveal that smoking costs Nigeria over N526 billion each year in direct medical treatments alone, accounting for nearly 10% of the country’s annual healthcare expenditure.
The dialogue, organized by THR Nigeria in collaboration with Quit Like Sweden, saw researchers, advocates, and policymakers dissect the Swedish model.
Sweden has reduced its smoking rate to a record-low 4.5% by embracing safer alternatives like snus and nicotine pouches, achieving the lowest tobacco-related disease and mortality rates in Europe