Anti-tobacco messages to be included in textbooks in 2020: Nahid
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said there will be clear messages against tobacco in school textbooks from 2020, aiming to create awareness among children.
Speaking at a programme organised by the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance of non-government organisation Progga, the minister said young people need to be aware of the adverse impacts of tobacco consumption, so that they do not get the habit, and also encourage others to quit.
Citing a study that 90 percent shops located within 100 metres of schools and colleges in Dhaka city sell tobacco products, he said necessary action will be taken in this regard.
The programme at Cirdap in the capital conferred five journalists with “Tobacco Control Journalism Award-2018”, ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
The winners contributed to creating awareness through their works in media, according to organisers. They are Sirajul Islam, chief reporter of Daily Sylheter Daak; Dolon Akter, special correspondent of the Financial Express; Abdul Kashem, senior reporter of the Kaler Kantho; SM Atiq, senior correspondent of NTV, and Golam Murtaza Jewel, reporter of Daily Ajker Patrika.
Awareness among the young generation and proper enforcement of law are necessary to reduce tobacco consumption in Bangladesh, speakers said at the programme.
National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malik, who is also founder and president of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, said, “Many of the 30-50 age group people suffer from ischemic heart disease, and one of the main reasons is tobacco consumption.”
Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, of Directorate General for Health Services, referred to the World Economic Forum Report of 2014 and said non-communicable diseases cause huge economic losses to both developed and least developed countries, where among tobacco-related illness tops the list of diseases.
Muhammad Hasan Shahriar, coordinator of Progga, presented some statistics showing the current situation of tobacco consumption in the country.
“According to 2014 WHO report, heart disease is responsible for 17 percent of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh,” he said.
Between 2005 and 2016, heart diseases came to the 1st place from the 7th position on the list of causes behind premature deaths, while smoking contributes to 30 percent of all heart disease deaths, he said.
Currently, 43.3 percent of the total adult population are consumers of tobacco, he added.
Shahriar also stressed the need for proper implementation of the existing tobacco control law and increasing the revenue of this sector in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already identified tobacco as one of the impediments towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and committed to transforming the country into a tobacco-free one by 2040. So, the lawmakers need to take proper measures to achieve the target,” he said.
Murtoza Haider Liton, convenor of Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance; Dr Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuiyan, grants manager of Tobacco-Free Kids; and Md Khairul Alam Shiekh, joint secretary and coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, also spoke at the programme.
Journalist Muzzammil Husain presided over the ceremony.