Meeting of TFI Committee
Speakers at a meeting stressed the need to play an active role in protecting health of new generation.
The meeting of TFI Committee was held under the chairmanship of the Director General Health, Dr. Abdul Sattar Korarirecently at Directorate General Health Services Sindh, Hyderabad recently aims to develop strategy for proper implementation of Health Ordinance and to plan how to raise awareness of hazards of smoking.
Dr. Abdul Sattar Korai stressed upon the second hand smoke is dangerous to the health of the smoker as well as the non-smoker. WHO, American Cancer Society, and Pakistan Chest Society as well as many other organizations have already recommended that all indoor public places must be completely smoke-free in order to protect the non-smokers from environmental tobacco smoke.
He further said within our limited resources we will undertake all necessary measures for tobacco control and assist individuals, families and communities to work towards achieving the goal of a tobacco smoke free environment.
He urged the religious scholars to educate people in light of true Islamic teachings. All the NGOs working in health sector and the media people to come forward and educate the society about the hazards of tobacco use.
Masood Iqbal Inspector, Traffic Section Office Latifabad # on the occasion shown his concern on increasing number of smokers in Pakistan and slow implementation of the ordinance. He said there is need to display pictorial stickers in busses, vegans and on bus stops. He said that driver’s and conductor should announce that no body will smoke in side the bus or vegan. He also suggested health talks in schools and arranging camps in Phulali, Hali Road and Paratabad where the Gutka painpori are prepared. He regretted that the tobacco industry in Pakistan has been given a free hand to promote their deadly products, destroying people’s health and resources. Mr Masood said that there should be ban on small illegal cabins of cigarettes pan & gutka and cigarettes should be sold only on big stores.
Ms Seerat Shahina Deputy Director (Health Education) highlighted the hazards of Tobacco and second hand smoke and activities carried out regarding Tobacco Control. Smoking is hazardous in any form. She further said that, the health of a significant percentage of the world’s youth is at risk. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and child and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence. The smoke of Tobacco is equally hazardous for non smokers as for smokers.
The current Surgeon General’s Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Short exposures to secondhand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of heart attack.
About 25 million Pakistani smoke and 12oo youth start smoking each day. In the countries where smoking has been a wide spread habit I is responsible for 90% lung cancer deaths. An estimated 100000 Pakistanis die annually from tobacco related illnesses.
She told that this Committee was constituted in 2004. The following initiatives had been carried like; several letters, circulars had been issued to EDO (Health) and Other Program Managers for implementation of the Health Ordinance Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of non smokers 2002.
No smoking displayed boards out side the main offices, banners, posters, sticker and leaflets were distributed to all the districts for display and distribution to raise awareness.
In this regards several seminars has been arranged for health professionals, school teachers, media people, Religious leaders and NGOS in which press releases were issued, broadcasting of radio programs, copies has been of Ordinance to Managers of Restaurants for hundred percent smoke free inside and had meetings with some Managers. (Village Karachi, Indus and City Gate Hyderabad, Pizza hut Karachi and Hyderabad). Pictorial health warning on cigarette packs
Dr. Naeem, Director Nuclear Institute of Medical Radiotherapy Jamshoro (NIMRA) said that due to Niswar, Gutka, chilia and painpori cases of Cancer especially mouth and neck are increasing. He stressed that there is need to create awareness in general public.
Mr. Allah Bux, ASI Traffic Police said that Ordinance will not be effected until and unless strict monitoring and imposing penalties to violators.
Dr. Masood Ahmed Solangi, Director Public Health DGHSS, Dr. Wali Mohammed Laghari Deputy Director Preventive, Dr. Rafique Qureshi Public Relation Officer DGHSS expressed their view points.
On this occasion Director General Health Services Sindh had also recorded a message on a private news channels for the awaressnes of masses awareness.