Doctors Urge More Action Against Smoking

The World Association of Family Doctors (WONCA) in Lagos has urged governments to adopt a comprehensive health education programmes that would enhance the campaign on the dangers of smoking.

The Africa Regional President of WONCA, Dr Sylvester Osinowo, made the call at an event to commemorate the 2012 WONCA’s World Family Doctor Day.

He said the commemoration theme, “Healthy Living: The Role of the Family Doctor, Smoking Cessation among Doctors and in the Community,” was chosen to highlight the effects of smoking.

Osinowo said the effects of smoking included coronary heart diseases, cancer and reduction in fertility for women.

The National President of the Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr Anthony Omolola, said that preventive health care through annual checkup was the best healthy living strategy.

Omolola stressed the importance of having family doctors as they “are the ones who are close to the patients and have personal relationship with them, making treatment easier’’.

He also said that the notion that only the elite could afford the services of private doctors was false.

“It is not true that only the rich can afford family doctors. Sometimes family doctors would treat you free of charge because of the rapport you have with them. “This is actually better than in some cases in public hospitals where you have to buy your own syringes, cotton wool and so on,’’ added.

He urged Nigerians have family doctors to take care of their health needs when they need them most.