News
Smoking causes 100,000 deaths in Pakistan annuallyKARACHI, June 01 : Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of adult deaths in Pakistan and is currently responsible for over 100,000 deaths annually in the country.
This was read out from a message sent by Prof Masood Hameed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Dow university of Health Sciences, on the occasion of No-Tobacco Day organised by the Aga Khan University (AKU).
Prof Hameed said in his message that when it comes to tobacco use, health professionals are uniquely positioned to help people change their behaviour. Their involvement is key to the successful elimination of tobacco epidemic in the country. He regretted that many doctors in Pakistan are themselves smokers. Health professionals, like doctors and nurses need to act as role models and when they themselves smoke, it becomes a cause for shame for the entire society. The message said that all the educational institutions be made smoke-free.
Prof Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at AKU, regretted that in spite of the anti-tobacco ordinance passed by the federal cabinet in Oct 2002, no sincere attempts had been made by the govt to implement this law in the country. Instead, tobacco companies have been given a free hand to promote the deadly and addictive substance to the youth of Pakistan," he said.
Quoting a recent survey conducted by the Pakistan Chest Society, Prof Khan said that over 90 per cent of the public in the country is unaware of any laws against smoking at public places.
He disclosed that over 70 per cent of children in Pakistan are exposed to passive smoking daily as a result of smoking by their elders.
Dr Shehzad Ghaffar, Head and Neck Surgeon at AKUH, said that besides smoking, tobacco use in pan and gutka is a major cause of the rising incidence of head and neck cancers in Pakistan.
To mark the day, a speech contest was held and the students of AKU pledged to work for the control of tobacco use in the country.