The Senate, Wednesday, warned Nigerians on the dangers of the emission of carbon monoxide to human lives across the country.
It, therefore, urged citizens to use and install carbon monoxide detectors, especially alarms in their motor vehicles, houses, dwelling places, offices, workshops and factories for preservation of their lives from hazardous effect of the dangerous gas.
The upper chamber further directed the Federal Government to create awareness through radio, television and newspapers, among Nigerian workers and employers on the importance of the detectors for preservation of lives and good health of Nigerians.
These resolutions followed an adopted motion titled, “Urgent need to encourage installation of carbon monoxide detectors” sponsored by Senator Gbolahan Dada representing Ogun West Senatorial district.
In his lead debate, Dada said apart from deaths occurring from various security challenges in the country, many Nigerians were also losing their lives to devastating effect of carbon monoxide in motor vehicles, houses, offices, workshops and factories on daily basis.
In his words, “Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It has no smell, no taste and no sound. It is also difficult for persons inhaling it to detect same. When inhaled, some of the signs are dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion and ultimately, death.
“Carbon monoxide is a by-product of combustion. Exposure to this danger occurs through gas fires, oil burning furnaces, portable generators, charcoal grills”.
Further, the lawmaker reported that Global Burden of Disease in 2015 Update had stated, “86,353 people died from unintentional poisonings worldwide in 2015 with 78,054 (90%) deaths occurring in low and middle income countries.
He also averred that if the global estimates of the numbers of intentional poisonings were freely accessible, the poisoning mortality numbers would be higher.
He added, “statistics shows that between 1999-2010, a total of 5,149 deaths occurred from carbon monoxide poisoning in United States.
“It is certain that Nigeria recorded a higher fatality figure of carbon monoxide poisoning during the period in question if adequate records are kept by the authorities.
“There is nothing on ground to create awareness on the devastating effect of carbon monoxide especially in work places and factories where innocent workers are exposed to this time killer almost on daily basis”.
Many lawmakers in their separate contributions, urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to create awareness through the mass media among Nigerians in order to preserve lives.
They also warned that if nothing was done, innocent Nigerians would continue to be exposed to avoidable health hazards likely to terminate their lives untimely.
The Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah representing Kebbi South, lamented that many lives have been lost to carbon monoxide emission except in cars which have oxygen to diffuse its effects.
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