Introduction: @GoingSmokefree – Welcome to our twitter chat as we host @THRNigeria. Kindly use the hashtag #SaferAlternatives to join the conversation.
Question: @GoingSmokefree – @THRNigeria Thank you for taking time to engage us today. In a nutshell, kindly tell us what THR Nigeria is all about? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Thank you @GoingSmokefree for this moment. THRNigeria is a scholarship project under the Knowledge-Action-Change (KAC) Scholarship Program Scheme, which focuses on promoting safer alternative by providing truthful, transparent information to smokers and the public generally, with the focus of switching where they cannot quit smoking.#SaferAlternatives
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Who runs THR Nigeria? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – THRNigeria is handled by beneficiary of the KAC 2019 scholarship program Scheme from Nigeria, whose handle is @jerrydree with support from @prof_rx a KAC beneficiary also from Nigeria. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree –What is your organization trying to accomplish? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Our agenda is mainly to create awareness & empower the general public especially smokers who are struggling to quit tobacco, to control their own risks-by providing a transparent accessible information on low-risk alternative to smoking as against the “quit or die” strategy forced down by tobacco control activist. It’s better to give people the option to make good and informed choices to their health – including reducing risk while continuing as a nicotine user – than to try to force them down a part that others regard as best for them…. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians
Question: @GoingSmokefree – In recent times there has been an emergence of smokeless products Like Snus, E cigarettes and Heat-not-burn that have drastically reduced smoking rates in Europe & America. How important are they in the fight against smoking in Nigeria? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – These smokeless products are #SaferAlternatives to smoking, which has great potential to smoking cessation & cannot be over emphasized. For people who cannot quit, we encourage them to switch their source of nicotine which when used properly and consistently, can help reduce and quit Smoking completely. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Are E-cigarettes legal in Nigeria? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – The sale of e-cigarette is not regulated; therefore, the sale of e-cigarettes is allowed considering that the standard organization of Nigeria, SON has provided guidelines for the importation of the device in Nigeria. We also have identified ecig stores across the country &interestingly vapers too and a former president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), now the Nigerian Chairman Socio-Medical Affairs Committee (SMAC) of the World Medical Association (WMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele has spoken out in support of electronic cigarettes and believes that they are the most effective tool in stopping smoking. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – What about Snus and Heat-Not-Burn? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Yes-legal. What we have here mostly is the moist smokeless tobacco which are taken through the nose –nasal snuff. Things have evolved over the years, which gave rise to a finely grounded & enclosed small teabag-like pouch, which are placed between the upper lip and gum called #Snus. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Nigeria has 7,488,000 smokers, with 16,000 dying every year, according to @TobaccoAtlas. How can harm reduction help reduce the smoking rates? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – The public needs to understand that THR is part of the solution in reducing the national burden of non-communicable diseases caused by smoking cigarette & we already know wit evidences that people have benefitted personally from switching to a low risk alternative products with a decline in smoking in Europe and America. We hence believe same can be replicated here in Nigeria with the help of awareness and accessible information by the public and smokers.#SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Are smokers in Nigeria aware of safer alternatives? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Unfortunately, the awareness is on the low. This is where THRNigeria is taking the challenge with passion to create a veritable platforms through social media and workshop campaigns. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Majority of smokers in Nigeria do not know that e-cigarettes, snus and HNB are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. What measures are you taking to spread awareness? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – The social media is the new Oil channel through which THRNigeria intend to optimize to spread awareness on the choices for a low risk alternative to smoking. We want smokers to know what options they have in order to make an informed choice. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Here in Africa we have Bloomberg funded organizations that are opposed to safer nicotine products like #Ecigs #Snus #HNB , e.g @AfricaNoTobacco @TobaccoCtrl. What would you say to such organizations? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – We all know cigarette use is the deadliest & dirtiest means of nicotine use, with leading cause of preventable death in Africa. The best approach in achieving a free smoke Africa is through these safer nicotine products like e-cigarettes, Snus & HnB. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians
Question: @GoingSmokefree – What is your message to Nigeria’s federal Health Ministry @Fmohnigeria? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Our message to @fmohnigeria is, there are now rapid development in nicotine-based products that can effectively substitute for cigarettes but with a low risks. These substitute are E-cigarettes & other safer alternatives such as #snus could play a significant role in achieving the 2025 UN non-communicable diseases by reducing smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Have tobacco companies like @BATScience and @InsidePMI made these safer nicotine products available in Nigeria? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Not yet, but we are very positive & open in welcoming safer nicotine products in the Nigeria market by @BATScience & @InsidePMI. Giving the instance that BAT will be producing Snus for the Kenya market, we are hopeful Nigeria will be the next market region for them. #SaferAlternatives #Nigerians
Question: @GoingSmokefree – Finally, can these safer nicotine products bring an end to smoking? #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – The truth is, ending cigarette smoking is far from near. However it can be brought to the lowest rate through safer nicotine products, evidences and unbiased information accessible to the general public. #SaferAlternatives #dinomelaye #Nigerians #FridayFeeling
Question: @GoingSmokefree – And with that we come to the end of our twitter chat. We would like to thank @THRNigeria for taking time to engage with us. Keep the conversation going #SaferAlternatives
Response: @THRNigeria – Thank you @GoingSmokefree for the time. #SaferAlternatives
