Tobacco-related diseases claim over 5,000 lives annually in Uganda
In response to this growing crisis, health officials are advocating for stricter tobacco control measures to protect public health.
Kagadi: Health experts have raised alarm over the increasing number of deaths caused by tobacco-related diseases in Uganda, with more than 5,000 people dying annually due to complications linked to smoking.
Dr. Julius Birungi, the Medical Superintendent of Kagadi General Hospital, revealed that globally, tobacco-related illnesses claim over seven million lives every year, out of more than one billion smokers worldwide.
Dr. Birungi emphasized that tobacco use has no health benefits but instead poses severe risks, leading to diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory conditions.
He also highlighted the financial strain tobacco-related illnesses place on Uganda’s healthcare system, revealing that the government spends over 449 billion Ugandan shillings annually on treating these conditions funds that could otherwise be directed toward development projects.
Statistics indicate that most tobacco users in Uganda die prematurely, with the majority succumbing to tobacco-related illnesses between the ages of 34 and 69.
In response to this growing crisis, health officials are advocating for stricter tobacco control measures to protect public health and reduce the burden on the country’s healthcare system.
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