KARACHI, May 27: It is wiser for the youth to stay away from the use of tobacco and take up sports for the sake of their health and prosperous future of the country. This was stated by prominent sports personalities here on Sunday during a health-awareness walk organized by the Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan on the occasion of “World No-Tobacco Day”.

The walk started at 8.00am from the AKU Sports and Rehabilitation Centre towards the National Stadium and finished back at the AKU. The theme for this year is “Tobacco-Free Sports — Play it Clean.” Pakistan Anti-Tobacco Coalition, Pakistan Chest Society, Pakistan Cardiac Society and Cancer Society also participated in the walk.

The participants suggested that youngsters take up sports and refrain from tobacco use if they want to live a successful, happy and healthy life. They warned the public of the serious health risks associated with tobacco use that are on the rise in Pakistan.

The vice-chancellor of Ziauddin Medical University, Professor Naeem Jafri, said doctors should act as role models by not smoking themselves and help the patients and their families to quit smoking, too. He demanded that smoking be banned at public places in Pakistan.

Chairman, AKHSP, Dr Hanif Esmail, said that smoking was a proven risk factor for lung cancer and heart attack. Passive smoking had deleterious effects on women and children who should be protected from tobacco toxins at all costs, he added.

The president of Pakistan Chest Society, Sindh Chapter, Dr Nadeem Rizvi, said there was a need to create awareness in the country of the risks associated with passive smoking. He offered the help of PCS in raising awareness in schools and colleges so that students should learn more about the hazards of tobacco use.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nadeem Mustafa Khan, said: “It is the mission of the AKU to create awareness among the public on health-related issues. A low-income country such as Pakistan should work more on the preventive aspects of tobacco-related diseases,” he remarked.

He reiterated the fact that AKU is a smoke-free zone and people are discouraged from smoking on the university premises. He later gave away prizes to the winners of competition in placards used for awareness.

Consultant chest physician and head of AKU Tobacco/Health Committee, Professor Javaid Khan, said that tobacco use was on the rise in Pakistan and so were tobacco-related diseases. He warned that if we do not take any action now, the current death toll from tobacco worldwide would rise from 4 million per year to 10 million per year by as early as 2020.

He regretted that the majority of smokers in this country was not aware of the serious health risks associated with tobacco use. He also mentioned that while the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has declared the forthcoming world cup a “no-tobacco” event, tobacco companies in Pakistan were using this event for the promotion of tobacco among youth.

Other speakers on the occasion included Chairman, Department of Paediatrics, AKU, Dr Gaffar Billoo and ex-president, Cancer Society, Dr Sirajuddaula Syed.

—APP