The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) last Friday organised a health walk in Accra as part of activities to mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).
The event was patronised by traders, drivers and students at Nima who were later sensitised to the dangers of smoking tobacco and other toxic substances.
This year’s theme is “Grow Food, Not Tobacco.”
The exercise started from the premises of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and climaxed at the Nima Market. After engaging with traders and passers-by at the market, the procession returned to the St Kizito Basic School to engage with pupils and teachers also.
As the procession neared the Nima Police Station, a petty trader approached the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Mr Roderick Daddey-Adjei, and broke down in tears, lamenting over her son who was hooked on cigarettes that destroyed his life.
She said the walk and the message disseminated by the procession, evoked memories to her as a single mother.
Mr Roderick Adjei consoled her for some minutes and encouraged her to continue speaking to her son while praying for him.
The march finally ended at the premises of GBC.
Although, the day is commemorated globally on May 31, FDA continuously organises this year-long campaign to raise awareness on the hazardous risk of smoking toxic substances such as tobacco.
The Head of Tobacco and Substance Abuse Department of the FDA, Dr Olivia Boateng, stated that although they had reached out to the public on various occasions, this time, the walk targeted communities to involve everyone about the campaign.
The walk was supported by the World Health Organisation, Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.
BY YUNUSAH ESSANDOH
