Combating tobacco menace

The number of tobacco users in the population of 15-year and above age group has dropped by eight per cent in the last eight years, said a study report of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017. The initial findings of the research result were revealed by the Ministry of Health and Family Planning recently in front of the Health and Family Planning Minister Mohammad Nasim at his ministry. According to the report, the number of smokers and smokeless tobacco consumers of the country have decreased 5 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively.

There is no scope for complacency at this revelation as the number of teenage smokers and young women smokers is showing an upward trend. Chewing of raw tobacco is on the rise in rural areas. Besides, hidden advertisement of smoking is going on. The government has to spend more money in the health sector than it earns from the tobacco companies as revenue. This does not augur well. There is no enforcement of the law banning smoking in public places. Taking advantage of it scores of people are smoking in public places exposing themselves and the others to serious health hazards.   

Smoking is the second cause of deaths globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. According to doctors, smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. Bangladesh is more vulnerable to mortality because here cigarettes are cheaper than other countries. The people suffering from tobacco consumption related diseases have to spend a lot of money for medical treatment. It puts strain on the family budget. The government has to spend more money in the health sector than it earns from the tobacco companies as revenue. There is no alternative to executing the amended tobacco control law properly to free the public health from various non-contagious diseases caused by smoking and other forms of tobacco uses.

Campaign against the detrimental impact of tobacco consumption should be strengthened. Generation of awareness among the people, particularly teenagers and students is of prime importance. Apart from ban on smoking on certain places, advertising, promotion and sponsorship related to tobacco will have to be prohibited in all print and electronic media. Teachers in schools can explain to students the dangerous impacts of smoking. More stern measures should be taken to discourage smoking in the interest of public health.    

 

Combating tobacco menace

The number of tobacco users in the population of 15-year and above age group has dropped by eight per cent in the last eight years, said a study report of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017. The initial findings of the research result were revealed by the Ministry of Health and Family Planning recently in front of the Health and Family Planning Minister Mohammad Nasim at his ministry. According to the report, the number of smokers and smokeless tobacco consumers of the country have decreased 5 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively. There is no scope for complacency at this revelation as the number of teenage smokers and young women smokers is showing an upward trend. Chewing of raw tobacco is on the rise in rural areas. Besides, hidden advertisement of smoking is going on. The government has to spend more money in the health sector than it earns from the tobacco companies as revenue. This does not augur well. There is no enforcement of the law banning smoking in public places. Taking advantage of it scores of people are smoking in public places exposing themselves and the others to serious health hazards. Smoking is the second cause of deaths globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. According to doctors, smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. Bangladesh is more vulnerable to mortality because here cigarettes are cheaper than other countries. The people suffering from tobacco consumption related diseases have to spend a lot of money for medical treatment. It puts strain on the family budget. The government has to spend more money in the health sector than it earns from the tobacco companies as revenue. There is no alternative to executing the amended tobacco control law properly to free the public health from various non-contagious diseases caused by smoking and other forms of tobacco uses. Campaign against the detrimental impact of tobacco consumption should be strengthened. Generation of awareness among the people, particularly teenagers and students is of prime importance. Apart from ban on smoking on certain places, advertising, promotion and sponsorship related to tobacco will have to be prohibited in all print and electronic media. Teachers in schools can explain to students the dangerous impacts of smoking. More stern measures should be taken to discourage smoking in the interest of public health.