By Lumbiwe Mwanza
WHILE there is significant evidence linking stroke cases to smoking, more research is needed to determine the magnitude and causal pathways of the association between stroke and tobacco use, the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation (ZAHESFO) has said.
Recently, the Livingstone University Teaching Hospital revealed that in the last quarter, the institution recorded an increase in the number of stroke cases with 26 handled so far.
In an exclusive interview with The Scoop, ZAHESFO founder Brenda Chitindi who is also Tobacco – Free Association of Zambia Executive Director said tobacco use in communities was also contributing to new stroke cases and that more awareness is needed among people.
“As tobacco-related stroke places a huge health and socio- economic burden on individuals, families, and communities, reducing exposure to tobacco smoke is a key area of action,” she said.
She has emphasised the need for Zambia to enforce policies that protect people from death, or illnesses caused by tobacco use.
She has further appealed to Government to implement the WHO-FCT treaty as this will help save more lives of Zambians from the ills of tobacco use.
