GRi in Parliament 15 - 06 - 2002
Ban smoking in public places - Dr Ahmed
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 June 2002- Doctor Major Mustapha Ahmed (retired), NDC Ayawaso East, on Friday called for immediate ban of smoking in public places to save non-smokers from contracting smoke-related diseases.
"The rights of non-smokers to a healthy life should be upheld and defended by protecting them against second hand smoke especially in work places and other public places."
Dr Ahmed, who was making a statement in Parliament, said a law that would prohibit smoking in public places would cut down the huge health bill of the country. "I am calling for an advocacy legislation that would seek to prohibit smoking in our work place especially enclosed indoor workplaces, hospitals and schools except in tobacco retail shops, stand-alone or isolated bars, designated smoking rooms in our hotels and restaurants."
He argued that the loss of man-hours related to tobacco related illness far outweighed incomes from the tobacco industry. "Passive smoking increases the risk of cardiac (heart) disease by 30percent and passive smokers have cardiac effects after only thirty minutes of exposure."
He said: "Cardiovascular diseases make up 43 per cent of smoking related mortality. Lung cancer, which is one of the long-term effects of smoking makes up 29 per cent whilst other respiratory illnesses account for 20 per cent."
Dr Ahmed said smoking brings about countless diseases including strokes, childhood asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. Members including the Minister of Health, Dr Kweku Afriyie supported the member's statement pledging their individual support to any effort or bill that would achieve that purpose.
"For some of us in spite of many problems and anxieties in life we still want to live a life fully and would especially want to avoid habits like smoking, which cuts life short", Mr K. A. Okerchire, NPP-Nkawkaw, said.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 June 2002- Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, said on Friday that his ministry would establish ambulance services on zonal basis across the country under a new policy of the ministry.
There are also plans to introduce Utility Vehicles Scheme for needy hospitals. Dr Afriyie said this in Parliament when the NPP member for Asunafo-South, Mr George Amponsah asked when Goaso Government Hospital would be given an ambulance.
The Minister said there were no immediate plans to provide the Goaso Hospital with an ambulance but it would be considered when the supply of the utility vehicles scheme took off.
As to whether the Minister would add residential accommodation to the Ada District Hospital project asked by Mr Amos Buertey, NDC-Ada, he said the project would form part of the second phase of the ministry's medium term programme of 2002-2006.
On the upgrading of the Sankore Health Centre, Dr Afriyie said it has not been programmed for upgrading within the ministry's medium term programme, stressing that the centre would continue to receive support from the ministry to enable it to effectively deliver health services to the people within its catchment areas.
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