Drive launched against smokeless tobacco

Islamabad: Parliamentary Secretary to Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) Dr. Nousheen Hamid launched a campaign against smokeless tobacco at a local hotel on Thursday.She said the government fully understands the hazards of use of tobacco and its product including smokeless tobacco and we are committed to do every effort to curb the menace of tobacco use in Pakistan.Dr. Naushen Hamid, further said that under existing tobacco control laws of Pakistan, the use of all forms of tobacco is already banned in public places and public transport.She believed that the launch of this informative video on smokeless tobacco is a great effort by ASTRA. It is expected that the video would be disseminated with the support of all partners and the Government to all concerned and it would create a strong message to quit all forms of tobacco including smokeless tobacco.Dr. Ziauddin Islam, Technical Head Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of NHSRC presented details about the prevalence of smokeless tobacco. He said globally there are 300 million users of smokeless tobacco and out of these 89% based in low and middle-income countries including South East Asian countries- Pakistan. He informed that in Pakistan 9.6 million adults at or above the age of 15 years are using smokeless tobacco.He further said that use of smokeless tobacco is leading to different types of cancers, which include oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer and other cardiac effect. He hoped that with the support of this video on smokeless tobacco use, we would be successful in the dissemination of hazards of smokeless tobacco use in the country and deterrence and quitting of smokeless tobacco in the country.Malik Imran Ahmed country head campaign for tobacco-free kids said that smokeless tobacco (SLT) remained out of government attention ever since.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2XFzrUb