'Smoking single largest preventable cause of adult deaths'

"Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of adult deaths in Pakistan, and is currently responsible for over 100,000 deaths annually in the country." This was read out from a message sent by Professor Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences, on the occasion of World No-Tobacco Day organised by Aga Khan University (AKU) on Tuesday.
Professor Hameed Khan, who was unable to attend the seminar, said in his message that "when it comes to tobacco use, health professionals are uniquely positioned to help people change their behaviour. Their involvement is key to the successful elimination of tobacco epidemic in the country. He regretted that many doctors in Pakistan are themselves smokers. "Health professionals like doctors and nurses, need to act as role models and when they themselves smoke, it becomes a cause for shame for the entire society."
The message further said that all-educational institutions be made smoke-free. "There is strictly no place for tobacco in medical universities." As vice chancellor, he promised to take measures for the control of tobacco use amongst medical students and faculty at Dow University of Health Sciences.
Professor Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at AKU, regretted that in spite of the anti-tobacco ordinance passed by the federal cabinet in October 2002, no sincere attempts had been made by the government to implement this law in the country.
"Instead, tobacco companies have been given a free hand to promote the deadly and addictive substance to the youth of Pakistan," he said. Quoting a recent survey conducted by Pakistan Chest Society, Professor Khan said that over 90 percent of the public in the country were unaware of any laws against smoking at public places.
He disclosed that over 70 percent of children in Pakistan are exposed to passive smoking daily as a result of smoking by their elders. "Passive smoking is a proven risk factor for lung cancer, heart attacks, asthma, pneumonia, and several other diseases," he warned. To mark World No-Tobacco day, a speech contest was held and the students of AKU pledged to work for the control of tobacco use in the country.
The health professionals also demanded that prohibition of No-Smoking Ordinance of 2002 be fully implemented in the country in its true spirit.-PR