KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar expressed concern on the trend of tobacco use in youths and stressed the need to save the young generation, particularly students, from smoking.
He said all hospitals of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and offices should affix no-smoking board inside their limits.
He said this while speaking as a chief guest at a seminar held in Sobhraj Maternity Hospital on World NoTobacco Day on Thursday, said a statement.
Chairperson medical committee of the city council Naheed Fatima, senior director health and medical services KMC Dr. Birbal, medical superintendent Sobhraj maternity hospital Dr. Muhammed Ali, Dr. Mehwish, Dr. Devi and others were also present on the occasion.
The Mayor said about 12 per cent of deaths occurred all over the world due to cardiovascular diseases are due to the use of tobacco and on average 6,00,000 people die each year due to environmental pollution created by tobbaco use whereas 6 million deaths occurred due to direct use of tobacco.
In Pakistan every year 1,60,100 deaths occurred due to use of tobacco, he said.
He said this year World Health Organisation has joined with the World Heart Federation to highlight the link between tobacco and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
He said that using tobacco causes cancer and lung disease, but many people are not aware that tobacco also causes heart disease and stroke.
"This World No Tobacco Day is drawing attention to the fact that tobacco does not just cause cancer, it quite literally breaks hearts," he said.
He called this unfortunate that despite lot of damages due to use of tobacco, some organisations working for promotion of tobacco use through various lucky draws and other means to bring attention of people, especially youths towards use of tobacco.
He said media can play a vital role in curbing this trend in the society.
He said besides government performing its duty in this connection, citizens should also fulfill their responsibility and refrain from use of tobacco in any form, only then we can fulfill the dream of a healthy and diseases-free society.
Replying to a query, he said heatwave treatment ward has been established in every hospital of Karachi where doctors and paramedics with required medicines are available on round the clock basis.
He said vaccination was being carried out to save the people from dog bite. Rabies Control Program was aimed at providing safeguard to citizens against dog biting and spread of rabies virus among local population.
The Pilot project initiated in Ibrahim Haidery union councils will soon be extended to other areas of Karachi.
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