Dr Naa Adorkor Aryeetey, a clinical oncologist has warned against smoking shisha pipes in the country, saying it poses a health risk to mostly young people and exposes them to cancer.
Some youth in Ghana are gradually becoming addicted to the substance which is typically a mix of tobacco, molasses, glycerine and flavourings.
Doctors say there is a “misconception” that shishas are not as harmful as cigarettes.
The British Heart Foundation says an hour-long shisha session can be the equivalent of smoking more than 100 cigarettes.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (5 February), as part of this year’s World Cancer Day celebration, Dr Aryeetey advised the youth to abstain from excessive drinking and smoking to avert being diagnosed with cancer.
“We are not having children at an early age, in the past by the age of 20 years you have a child, these days we are waiting till 40 years, all of that.
“Alcohol, cigarette and shisha smoking, every time I speak about these factors, I want to mention it, young girls are smoking shisha getting the impression that somehow because it goes through water, it doesn’t give the risk of cancer. it does.”
“And in fact people smoke shisha for longer, making them more at risk. So yes, we are at risk, but we also know that more than 30% of the time, there are things that we can do to lower our risk of developing cancer such as reducing alcohol and cigarette smoking, exercising among others,” Aryeetey said.
Listen to Dr Naa Adorkor Aryeetey in the attached audio clip below:
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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