World No Tobacco Day Observed

Today, World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) was marked in the country as elsewhere in the world, highlighting health and additional risks associated with tobacco use and advocating effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

This year's theme of the day is 'Tamak Company-er Kutchal Rukhey Daw-Tamak o Nicotine Theke Tarun der Bachaw (resist evil design of tobacco companies-save young people from tobacco and nicotine).'

Today, the Task Force Committee on the Implementation of the Tobacco Control Act organized a discussion at the Barguna Deputy Commissioner (DC) Office.

Barguna DC Mustain Billah chaired the meeting, while Civil Surgeon Dr Humayun Shahin Khan and Barguna Press Club President Advocate Sanjib Das, among others, took part in the debate.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Saturday marking the day.

National newspapers published special supplements, while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels broadcast special programs highlighting the adverse effects of tobacco on the day.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and kills nearly nine million people worldwide every year.

It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) alone as the region is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)-2017, 35.3 per cent of people in Bangladesh are using tobacco products. According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey-2013, 52.3 per cent of students noticed tobacco promotion at the point of sale.

Tobacco is a major risk factor for all the main noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes mellitus.

Source: BSS