Up in smoke

A testimonial by Abida Hussain carried in the publication Newsweek, titled “My favourite mistake” (February 24), has stirred up a furore. To many people, the testimonial appears as an advertisement since it backs smoking. It also claims that Abida states the habit has caused her no ill-effects in terms of health, although 100,000 people die in the country annually due to the use of tobacco. The issue, of course, is a contentious one. It is a well-established fact that cigarettes damage health. Experts around the world concur on this. It is also a fact that companies are increasingly marketing their products to third-world countries and targeting women in particular. The number of women smokers is rising globally, even as men quit the habit. In this sense, the use of Abida Hussain’s story has sent out what health experts in the country are calling a ‘pro-smoking’ message which fits into a familiar pattern.

But then, we must also consider the issue of free choice among adults. Abida has simply chosen to tell her reasons for favouring smoking. Is this truly a crime? The matter is open to many arguments — though in a country like ours, perhaps responsibility needs to be shown when it comes to promoting health. After all, we have many issues that arise from the abuse of tobacco. But the issues go far beyond cigarettes. NGOs should also focus on other substances that damage health, such as the widespread use of chaalia or betel nut, sometimes marketed specifically to rope in children.

Other problems of a similar nature exist and need to be dealt with as efficiently as possible. Abida Hussain has told her own personal story. Whether or not she should have done so is a matter open to debate and is something which everyone needs to decide for themselves. Judgment on moral issues is, after all, always a delicate task and should be handled with care.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2012.