Experts urge anti-tobacco measures

Seek stringent implementation of existing laws to curb smoking

ISLAMABAD:

Experts on Monday called for stringent policy implementation to curb the high prevalence of smoking and the health hazards of second-hand smoking at a webinar.

The virtual moot was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. SDPI Senior Research Associate Syed Wasif Naqvi pointed out that second-hand smoke kills over 1 million annually and exponentially increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, as per World Health Organisation.

Despite a ban on indoor smoking since 2008 under the "Protection of Non-smokers Ordinance", continued violations stress the need for stringent enforcement measures.

SDPI Advisor Dr Wasim Janjua highlighted that Pakistan has reported 34.3 percent prevalence of second-hand smoking which is highest regionally. He further elucidated that third-hand smoke carries toxins and carcinogens that cannot be removed by cleaning or ventilation and continue to cling to surfaces, skin, and clothes, making them a grave health concern.

He stressed that there is no safe exposure level to tobacco smoke and separation between smokers and non-smokers, within the same airspace, designated smoking areas outdoors and quasi outdoors, ventilation and filtration are ineffective. However, he suggested robust policy implementation, countering opposition from the tobacco industry with public and stakeholder awareness campaigns.

President of the Alliance of Jordanian Universities against Tobacco and Smoking Dr Zainab Kailani highlighted that 63 per cent of Jordanians under 30 smoke and 90 per cent smoke regular cigarettes causing alarming tobacco consumption prevalence globally.

Weak legal implementation of the ban on smoking in universities makes it a fight against the stream and a major obstacle in reducing smoking prevalence in youth, she remarked. King Hussain Cancer Centre Director of Cancer Control Dr Nour Obeidat highlighted that Jordan had not only high prevalence but also high consumption which was increasing the incidence of diseases and burden on the healthcare system.

She stressed on increasing awareness of the health implications of smoking, addressing the cultural aspect of smoking, strict implementation of policies to ban smoking and addressing the increased availability of novel nicotine products like e-cigarettes. Dr Sahana Hedge Shetiya, Professor, Dentistry Oral Surgery and Medicine, India highlighted that despite stringent policy measures, 5.1 per cent of students in India were tobacco users.

She highlighted that this was because of low cost, easy availably of smoke and smoke-free tobacco products lead to high prevalence among children.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2023.