Experts\\\' plea to frame tobacco control rules

Experts have called for expediting enactment of tobacco control rules to reduce deaths and major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, tuberculosis etc.
They said evidences proved smoking and tobacco consumptions to be directly linked to those deadly diseases.
To ensure effective enforcement of the tobacco control law, amended on April 29, 2013, they stressed the need for passing the rules to make major provisions of law effective.
The experts made these pleas Saturday at a national seminar titled 'Tobacco-linked NCD and our concern' organised at the National Centre for Control Rheumatic Fever and Heart Disease (NCCRF/HD) premises.
Among experts, Dr M Mostafa Zaman, National Professional Officer and focal person for NCD prevention for WHO Bangladesh, Debra Efroymson, Regional Director of HealthBridge, Professor Dr Obaidullah Baki, President of the Bangladesh Cancer Society, Professor Dr Shubhagoto Choudhury, Head of Laboratory at BIRDEM, Professor Dr.Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Organising Secretary of the United Forum Against Tobacco (UFAT) and Head of Tobacco Control Programme at the National Heart Foundation & Hospital, Dr. Habibullah Talukder, Associate Professor of the National Cancer Institute and Hospital spoke on the occasion.
The seminar was moderated by Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, Director of Work for Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust and presided over by Dr Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of NCCRH/HD.
Multimedia keynote paper on tobacco-linked NCD was presented by Aminul Islam Sujon, Executive Editor of Swamaswar (Combined Voice) anti-tobacco newsletter published by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Global Cancer Ambassador for Bangladesh.
Speaking at the programme, Dr M Mostafa Zaman said Bangladesh made positive changes during last 15 years on tobacco control.  The government signed and ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and passed its national tobacco control law. This law has further been amended. All kinds of tobacco advertisement, promotions and sponsorship (TAPS) are banned in Bangladesh now.
Ms Debra Efroymson said the government banned all kinds of advertisement of tobacco products. "It is a positive sign, but still tobacco ads are visible." It is necessary to punish the offenders for proper implementation of tobacco control law, she said.  
Professor Dr. Obaidullah Baki said tobacco is a major cause of cancer; it should be controlled strictly. Professor Dr. Shubhagoto Choudhury said youth should be concerned about their health. Tobacco addiction or soft and energy drinks make them sick. So they should avoid those and the government should develop a comprehensive policy for NCD prevention, he suggested.
Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury said heart diseases and strokes are major causes of death in Bangladesh and smoking is most single cause of heart disease and stroke.
"Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) on tobacco packets are the most effective tool for awareness of danger of tobacco use. So to ensure GHW on tobacco packets, we should pass rules shortly," he said.
In a presentation, Aminul Islam Sujon said, referring to a WHO study in 2004, about 1.2 million people are affected by tobacco and about 4,00,000 tobacco users became disabled and 57 thousands died.

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