KARACHI: Doctors urged to help curb consumption of tobacco
KARACHI, Jan 11: Health professionals have urged family physicians and general practitioners to put in their best efforts in discouraging tobacco consumption by educating their visiting patients on the hazards involved.
In a press briefing, held prior to the inauguration of a two-day anti-smoking workshop on Tuesday, the professionals warned people against the commercial campaigns and strategies employed by tobacco firms to promote their products.
The workshop has been organized by the Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Dr Mira Birj Aghi, a tobacco control expert, has travelled from India to participate in the workshop.
She told journalists that doctors had a major role to play in educating the society on health-related issues and convincing them that consumption of tobacco in any form is injurious to health. "A majority of smokers wants to quit smoking but needs doctors' guidance. As such, doctors should have the quality to guide them properly," she added.
She observed that people in western countries had fully realized the demerits of tobacco consumption and they were now kicking the habit. However, people in Asia are yet to have adequate awareness about the hazards associated with tobacco consumption. They do not know that tobacco can make a man impotent; it may also destroy the male foetus carried by a woman using tobacco," she said.
"Now when Pakistan and India have signed the UN tobacco control treaty, they should educate their peoples about the hazards of tobacco consumption and establish clinics to help them quit tobacco use,'' she said, adding that doctors should be trained for the purpose.
She said approximately 3-10 per cent of womenfolk were in the habit of smoking and most of them appeared associated with air lines, media and multinational firms. "When the kind of people admired by others in society start consuming tobacco, others follow them and this cast a very bad effect on the whole society," she observed.
According to Dr Aghi, a 12-member team in India is working on devising a strategy for the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act in that country. The government has also done good ground work in this regard and we are making efforts to reduce the demand of tobacco through public awareness.
In reply to a question, she said that at present, there were 13 tobacco cessation clinics in India. President of the PCS and head of the JPMC Chest Department Dr Nadeem Rizvi said that a recent research conducted by the Aga Khan University showed that 40 per cent men and eight percent women in Pakistan smoked on a regular basis
He regretted that tobacco companies operating in Pakistan had been enjoying a free hand to promote a powerful addictive substance to youth of our country. "As a result of the aggressive promotional campaign they run, an estimated 1,500 children are taking up smoking every day," he added.
He said that during this first workshop of its series, some 60 doctors from public and private sectors would be imparted training in educating patients, whereas the PCS would establish tobacco cessation clinics in various cities.
"It is a doctor's responsibility to ask all his patients whether they smoke or not," he said, urging the city government to remove all billboards installed across the city to promote tobacco use. The city government should also launch a youth education campaign in schools and colleges on tobacco and its hazards.
Consultant Chest Physician from Aga Khan University Dr Javaid Khan pointed out that tobacco consumption in the form of 'gutka' and 'pan masala' was on the rise in Pakistan, especially children.
"Lung cancer is number-one cause of cancer deaths in Pakistani males and over 90 per cent of such cases are caused directly by use of tobacco," he said. Dr Rizvi told journalists that 54 per cent of the adult population had been using some 120-130 brands of tobacco. In the next 5-10 years, every fourth/fifth person will suffer submicusfibrosis and for reversing this trend, it is quite essential educate people.
Chest Physician from the Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, Dr Shakil Siddiqui said most people could quit smoking through their will power, but they required professional help in educating themselves through the modern techniques available for the purpose. Chest Specialist at the JPMC Dr Shahina Qayaum was also present on the occasion. - PPI
