The Tobacco Control Act: A disgraceful scenario


Today tobacco is considered to be the greatest single health hazard for mankind. It is the only legal consumer product that kills one-third to one-half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying 15 years prematurely on an average.
Tobacco related diseases are on increase
The non-smokers exposed to cigarette smoke are not safe also. When a smoker smokes, side-stream smoke goes directly into air from the burning end of the cigarette. This side-steam has higher concentration of noxious materials than the main-stream smoke inhaled by the smoker.
Relationship between cancer and involuntary smoking was first reported in 1981. Several studies subsequently found positive association between passive smoking and lung cancer. Scientific report indicates that the risk of tobacco related diseases is high among the children of smoking parents.
Children of smoking families are not safe. Respiratory infection among these children show a higher rate. If the present trend of tobacco usage continues it is estimated that 150 million children of the world who are alive today will eventually die of tobacco related diseases.
Bangladesh: Pioneer in promulgation of tobacco control Act
Bangladesh can claim to be pioneer in this direction. Promulgation of Tobacco Control Act-2005 was an epoch-making era in the history of tobacco control programme in the country. The passing of the Act created a wave of enthusiasm all over the country. The nation was proud of being one of the few in that direction.
In fact the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare added to its fame and glory as the then Minister had the opportunity to preside over the FCTC (Framework Convention on tobacco Control) in the 56th World Health Assembly in presence of 172 countries of the world. The resolution was passed unanimously and Bangladesh was the first country to ratify.
A disgraceful scenario in implementing the Act
Despite the strength of Tobacco Control Act behind us, we visualise a disgraceful scene projecting the total failure in the implementation of the Act.
This is because the concerned authorities are indifferent in implementing the Tobacco Control Act. Law enforcing authorities are for the control of production, sale and distribution. These are the prime objectives of the Act.
Some sources indicate that the production has rather gone up with the rise of sale and distribution which indicates rise in consumption without which production and distribution cannot go up. The concerned ministries are also indifferent in implementation of the act. If all the hospitals and healthcare centers are declared tobacco-free by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the Act as a strength behind and scientific logic as an added force for the physicians, the ministry can help implementation of the Act effectively.
Conclusion
Bangladesh Tobacco Products Usages & Control Act-2005 is an admirable achievement of the Government and a victory for the tobacco antagonists.
ADHUNIK is a pioneer organisation in anti-tobacco campaign working for almost two decades since 1987 for such an Act in Bangladesh.
If the Government becomes conscious and the law enforcing authorities are made aware of their responsibilities, the implementation of the Act should not have been difficult, Ministry of Health can play vital role by declaring all medical institutes in the capital and the rural health centres tobacco free.
Civil society has also responsibility in this direction. We all need to work together for implementation of the Tobacco Control Act to achieve the objectives of the theme of the WHO this year - Tobacco Free Youth for ultimately building a tobacco free environment which is safer and healtheir.

Dr Nurul Islam is the National Professor and Founder VC, USTC & Founder President, ADHUNIK. M A Jabbar is the Executive Secretary, ADHUNIK.

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