Public awareness: AKUH marks No Tobacco Day

Speakers warn that steep rise of tobacco consumption among young people is depriving country of a healthy workforce.

KARACHI:

The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) held a public awareness session to mark World No Tobacco Day on Thursday.

The speakers warned that steep rise of tobacco consumption among young girls and women was depriving the country of a healthy workforce while it was also increasing the burden of health sector.

“Majority of youth in Pakistan start smoking at a very young age and become habitual smokers before the age of 18,” said Dr Javaid Khan, consultant pulmonologist.

He added that 1,200 children start smoking daily which is  why Pakistan lags behind the rest of the world in its tobacco control efforts.

Talking about the 2013 global theme, Ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship, Dr Khan said, “For decades, advertising has increased the consumption of products but the tobacco industry continues to deny this link and claim that these activities do not convince smokers to smoke and it only supports competition.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2013.