Passive smoking is responsible for at least 17,000 stillbirths in a year in Pakistan
PESHAWAR: We have heard the warning that smoking is injurious to health time and again. But most smokers often choose to ignore the warning and go on smoking and, in the process, ruin their health. However, when one’s smoking habit becomes fatal for others, it’s time to stop and rethink.
According to a new report that appeared in the British Medical Journal, passive smoking is responsible for at least 17,000 stillbirths in a year in Pakistan. This is not a small number, especially considering that we already have the burden of stunting in our children due to malnutrition.
Our children are suffering because of our actions and it is time we took matters into our own hands and rectified the situation. Banning smoking in public places isn’t the only way forward, although it would help, as the responsibility doesn’t solely lie on our authorities.
The team that conducted the survey looked into the link between second-hand smoke and stillbirths in 30 developing nations from 2008 to 2013 and found that women who were exposed to second-hand smoke from their husbands or other family members gave birth to still-born babies. Therefore smokers should avoid smoking near pregnant women.
We should make sure that our actions are not costing someone their life.
Tajdar Raheem
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2018.
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