Awareness for enforcement of TCA underscored

RANGPUR, Aug 2 (BSS): Speakers a workshop here stressed for creating adequate awareness among the common people and concerned authorities for proper enforcement of the amended Tobacco Control Act (TCA) to stop smoking at public places.

They put special emphasis on building of smoking-free public places and transports to save thousands of non-smoking common people, including children and women, from the wraths of indirect smoking and its hazardous impacts on pubic health.

Rangpur regional office of Association for Community Development (ACD) organised the daylong workshop on 'Role of Tobacco Control Coalition (TCC) Members' at its hall room here in the city on Wednesday.

Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Dilwar Bakht attended and addressed the workshop as the chief guest with Focal Person of Tobacco Control Coalition Shushanto Bhowmick in the chair.

Divisional Director (Health) Dr Mohammad Nuruzzaman Haque and Medical Officer of Civil Surgeon's Office Dr Ilfat Arafi addressed as the special guests at the workshop moderated by Project Coordinator of ACD Ehsanul Amin.

The TCC members from its Rangpur, Mithapukur, Kurigram, Rajarhat, Lalmonirhat and Aditmari units took part at the workshop.

In his welcome speech, Project Coordinator of ACD Ehsanul Amin elaborated the goals of the workshop and findings of their field level studies conducted recently at different districts on tobacco control situation in the region.

He said every sixth adult death is being caused by tobacco in Bangladesh where 58 percent male and 29 percent female are consuming smoking tobacco products while 26 percent male and 28 percent female consume smokeless tobacco products.

Thousands of people die in Bangladesh consuming tobacco products and 12 lakh more are being attacked annually by lung cancer, cerebra- vascular, coronary artery, chronic obstructive pulmonary and other tobacco related diseases, he added.