The Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (GhNCDA), has advised government to ban the sale of tobacco and alcoholic beverages during this era of COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press statement issued to the general public by the Alliance seen by newswatchgh.com, it called on government “to ban the sale of tobacco (cigarettes) and alcoholic beverages including the advertisement of alcohol on TV and radio to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The decision from the Alliance is due to various researches that have shown that people living with non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, respiratory disorders among other NCDs appear to be more prone to becoming severely ill with the Corona Virus.
Also, since both smoking and alcohol intake are the leading causes of preventable diseases such as cancers, heart diseases and others, these diseases highly expose one to contracting and increasing the severity of COVID- 19 than those without the disease or those who do not smoke or drink alcohol.
Based on this, the Statement also *appealed to health practitioners to give extra attention to patients with non-communicable diseases.
“We entreat healthcare givers to give them special treatment in this hard and uncertain time including communicating with the patients to understand their conditions vis a vis the COVID 19” it stated.
The Alliance advised everyone to adhere to the precautionary measures outlined by the government and also to take in more balanced diets as well as exercise in order to boost our immune system.
