Smoking in Karachi girls schools rises
PAKISTAN - 2 JUNE 2010
KARACHI: Prof Nadeem Rizvi Head of Chest Diseases Jinnah Postgraduate Medical (JPMC ) and President Pakistan Chest Society has said that according to a recent research, smoking in girls schools of Karachi has risen to 16%.
He said this while addressing a press conference here. Prof Rizvi drew attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing that is targeted towards women and girls.
Women are a major target of opportunity for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
He demanded that all forms of direct or indirect marketing of tobacco products must be banned. How can we allow promotion of a product which is responsible for 100,000 deaths annually in the country, questioned Prof Rizvi.
Prof Javaid Khan official of National Alliance for Tobacco Control and Head Section of Chest Diseases at AKUH said that all doctors are morally bound to educating the public on health related issues.
Research shows that even a brief three-minute advice by doctors on quitting smoking brings about significant results. It was unfortunate.
He said that tobacco use in the form of gutka and pan masala is on the rise, especially among children, resulting in increasing incidents of head, neck and mouth cancers. Pakistan currently tops the global list in oral cancer, he said.
Citing another research on Shisha use, Khan said that over 50% of university students in Karachi were found to consume tobacco in this form. An hour of Shisha use was equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes, he warned.
Dr Shahina General Secretary of Pakistan Chest Society and Consultant of Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases said that around 1500 young people take up smoking everyday, helped by aggressive marketing by tobacco companies. Dr Shahina said that city governments need to initiate an education campaign on tobacco and its hazards in schools and colleges.
Source: The News International
PAKISTAN - 2 JUNE 2010
KARACHI: Prof Nadeem Rizvi Head of Chest Diseases Jinnah Postgraduate Medical (JPMC ) and President Pakistan Chest Society has said that according to a recent research, smoking in girls schools of Karachi has risen to 16%.
He said this while addressing a press conference here. Prof Rizvi drew attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing that is targeted towards women and girls.
Women are a major target of opportunity for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
He demanded that all forms of direct or indirect marketing of tobacco products must be banned. How can we allow promotion of a product which is responsible for 100,000 deaths annually in the country, questioned Prof Rizvi.
Prof Javaid Khan official of National Alliance for Tobacco Control and Head Section of Chest Diseases at AKUH said that all doctors are morally bound to educating the public on health related issues.
Research shows that even a brief three-minute advice by doctors on quitting smoking brings about significant results. It was unfortunate.
He said that tobacco use in the form of gutka and pan masala is on the rise, especially among children, resulting in increasing incidents of head, neck and mouth cancers. Pakistan currently tops the global list in oral cancer, he said.
Citing another research on Shisha use, Khan said that over 50% of university students in Karachi were found to consume tobacco in this form. An hour of Shisha use was equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes, he warned.
Dr Shahina General Secretary of Pakistan Chest Society and Consultant of Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases said that around 1500 young people take up smoking everyday, helped by aggressive marketing by tobacco companies. Dr Shahina said that city governments need to initiate an education campaign on tobacco and its hazards in schools and colleges.
Source: The News International
