Desk Report: Experts at a workshop called upon health professionals to play their due role in freeing Bangladesh from tobacco, which has become an economic burden for the country.
While presenting the keynote paper, Shamsal Islam, epidemiologist of Ispahani Eye Institute and Hospital, said Bangladesh is the 12th largest producer of tobacco crop in the world, producing 85900 tons in 2020.
There are 37.8 million tobacco users in Bangladesh. Tobacco use is higher in rural areas (37.1%), among those from poor socioeconomic backgrounds, and among those with lower levels of education. Tobacco use is also considerably higher among men (46%) compared to women (25.2%), he said, citing statistics of Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, an international organization.
Referring to the consequences of tobacco use, he said in 2018, tobacco use accounted for more than 126,000 deaths, or 13.5% of all deaths in the country. More than 24,000 deaths were attributed to secondhand smoking exposure. Tobacco causes a substantial economic burden, totaling an estimated USD 3.6 billion annually.
While presenting another keynote paper, Dr. Subrina Ahmed, a physician of Milvik Bangladesh, said, the doctors have the trust of people, the mass media, opinion leaders, and their voices are heard across a vast range of social, economic, and political arenas. At the individual level, they can educate the population on the harms of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. They can also help tobacco users overcome their addiction.
The speakers remarked while addressing the ‘workshop with health professionals on the present situation of tobacco cessation: Challenges and Way-Forward’ at Meghna Hall of BIAM Foundation at Eskaton Road in the capital.
Bangladesh Blind Mission (BBM), a NGO working on health, education and disability issues, organized the event recently, as part of involving physicians in anti-tobacco campaign, aimed at making the country tobacco free by 2040.
Highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals in curbing the use of all tobacco products, the speakers said the doctors can advise their patients to quit; offer brief counseling; prescribe cessation medications, connect them to additional resources, like a quit-line; follow up with continued support to help prevent relapse.
Joel Ahmed, president of BBM, was in the chair, while Umme Kausar Sumona of BBM, moderated it.
Prof. Dr. AHM Mustafizur Rahman, former Vice Chancellor of Jatiyo Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh, attended as the chief guest, while Brigadier General (retd) Khondoker Mohammad Mozammel Haque, advisor of BBM, attended as a special guest.
About 23 doctors from across the country took part in the workshop.
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