PRESS RELEASE: Strict tobacco control is needed to protect public health at this time of the COVID epidemic and to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Therefore, it is necessary to amend six sections of the Tobacco Control Law to strengthen it.
Speakers made the remark at a discussion titled ‘Need for Strong Tobacco Control Law to Achieve Tobacco Free Bangladesh’ organized with Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum at Fars Hotel in the capital on Wednesday. The discussion meeting was organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh in collaboration with the Campaign for Tobabo Free Kids.
The keynote address was delivered by the Research Coordinator of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute Dr. Ahmad Khairul Abrar. He said about 3.78 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco. Another 38.4 million become victims of secondhand smoke in public places including workplace and public transport. Excessive use of tobacco products is one of the leading causes of heart disease, cancer, breast disease and many other preventable diseases and deaths. More than 1 lakh 61 thousand people are dying of tobacco related diseases every year in the country. In addition, various studies have shown that smokers are 14 times more likely to become seriously ill than those infected with Covid 19.
The speakers said that the tobacco control law needs to be strengthened to protect the public health from these harms of tobacco. Mostafizur Rahman, lead policy advisor of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said various aspects of the country’s existing smoking and tobacco use (control) law are in line with the World Health Organization’s FCTC, but there are weaknesses in some areas. If these weaknesses are revised, the law will be more effective.
Speakers at the meeting demanded six important amendments to the Tobacco Control Act. These include a 100 percent ban on all public places and public transport in COVID, a ban on the display of tobacco products in stores, a ban on CSR of tobacco companies, a ban on the import, manufacture, sale and use of e-cigarettes, and an increase in the size of pictorial health warnings and banning the sale of single stick cigarette.
Speaking on the occasion, President of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum Toufiq Maruf said that the Health Reporters Forum is constantly working on the importance of public health. Members of this forum regularly report on tobacco control. They said they would make policymakers aware of the amendments to the Tobacco Control Act through reporting. General Secretary of Health Reporters Forum Rashed Rabbi was present as a special guest in the meeting. Among others, Ataur Rahman Masud, Senior Policy Advisor, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, was also present.
NEWS FROM Mahamud Setu. Media Manager, Anti-tobacco Program. National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. #
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.