Discouraging tobacco consumption
That the country would be tobacco free by the year 2040 as stated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Sunday is good to hear. We welcome the ministers optimism. The minister said action would be taken against the companies for not publishing health hazards cautions with pictures on the packets of tobacco products in line with the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act.
The World Tobacco Free Day is being observed in the country as elsewhere in the world today amid some disturbing realities. The government has to spend more money in the health sector than it earns from the tobacco companies as revenue. There is not a single positive aspect of tobacco use while its negative sides are galore.
Tobacco use is the second cause of deaths globally and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030. In the absence of the enforcement of the law banning smoking in public places, many people are smoking in public places exposing themselves and the others to serious health hazards. Consumption of tobacco causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases.
There is no alternative to executing the amended tobacco control law properly to free the public health from various non-contagious diseases caused by tobacco uses. The smokers do not know what a fatal blow they are inflicting on their health and the health of others around them through this lethal habit. The people suffering from tobacco consumption related diseases have to spend a lot of money for medical treatment. Doesnt this put strain on the family budget? The government has imposed taxes on the production of tobacco to discourage tobacco farming. Campaign against the detrimental impact of tobacco consumption should be strengthened. The media can play due role in this regard. That smoking can kill any smoker has to be communicated to both smokers and non-smokers.
Sterner measures should be taken to discourage tobacco consumption further in the interest of public health. It will be a great achievement if the country can be freed from tobacco menace before the year 2040.
