Take a hike: Citizens walk up the hills to bring down smoking

The international Tobacco day is observed annually on May 31.

ISLAMABAD:

Smoking kills, but hiking is a sure way to fire up a healthy lifestyle.

Dozens of families, children and youth participated in a “Hike for Health” on trail 3 of the Margalla Hills on Sunday morning. The activity was organised by the Shifa International Hospital (SIH) in connection with the World No Tobacco Day.

The international day is observed annually on May 31.

SIH doctors who also participated in the hike said the objective was to raise awareness about the harmful and negative effects of tobacco use.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Tobacco kills nearly six million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke.”

In Pakistan, a 2013 WHO survey indicated that 15 per cent of children between the ages of 13 and 15 are using tobacco in various forms.

SIH Director Strategic Planning Mahmood Mirza said the government’s decision to ban tobacco advertisement should be appreciated. He urged the government, however, to raise taxes on all tobacco products and prohibit the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to under-18s. An increase in taxes on tobacco products was also the main demand of World No Tobacco Day 2014.

Mirza said the public should be made aware that physical activities and healthy sports can lead them to a better and productive life.

He said people should regularly exercise and eat healthy to live a good life and avoid medical complications in old age.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2014.