Exposure to tobacco kills some 1.61 lakh in Bangladesh while it directly affects about 12 lakh more who consume tobacco. The figures related to annual tobacco deaths and incidences of tobacco related critical diseases were disclosed at a press conference on Wednesday. The press conference, to mark the 'World No Tobacco Day-2019," also said that about 3 lakh 82,000 people become victims suffering from lifelong killer diseases in Bangladesh.
Turning to information on the incidences of tobacco related diseases and deaths globally, the Ministry of Health officials who organised the conference, said that tobacco cause death to more than 70 lakh people across the globe each year while the indirect or passive smoking cause death to more than 9 lakh, speakers said in the press conference held at the Ministry of Health.
Secretary of the Healthcare Division, Ministry of Health and family Welfare, Md Asadul Islam, Bangladesh Country Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Bardhan Jong Rana, Experts of NGOs related to Tobacco and Additional Secretaries concerned of the ministry were present on the occasion. A study of an international journal titled, 'Tobacco Atla', reveals that more than 1,61,000 people die every year in Bangladesh due to tobacco related diseases, while a research survey of Bangladesh Cancer Society suggest that the treatment cost of diseases originated from tobacco consumption is much more than that of the revenue earning of the government from the tobacco sector.
While addressing, Islam said that the government had amended the law on Smoking and Use of Tobacco (Control) in 2013 and also enacted Smoking and Use of Tobacco (Control) guideline in 2015. "The government has laid due emphasize on tobacco control in health sector aiming to attain the SDG targets on time. The Prime Minister had expressed her desire to turn the country into a tobacco free region by 2040 at the South Asian Speakers Summit, held in 2016,” he said adding that the ministry is doing its best to fulfill the desires and working accordingly.
While addressing, WHO Country Representative in Bangladesh, Jong Rana said that WHO would give its all-out support in fulfilling the PM’s desire. “We still have 21 years in hand to prepare and work out on the plans to achieve the goals of making Bangladesh a tobacco free nation by 2040,” said Jong Rana.
Experts observed that today it is scientifically proved that tobacco is toxic, there are more than 7000 harmful elements in the fume of cigarette and bidi, of which at least 70 elements directly cause cancer.
They said smoking and indirect smoking cause chronic diseases of lung including Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). So in a bid to raising awareness in this regard among people, this year's theme of the world no-tobacco day has been labelled as "Don't Let Tobacco Take Your Breath Away. Choose Health Not Tobacco".
