KARACHI, Jan 5: The Pakistan Medical Association, Karachi chapter, on Friday expressed sorrow over the death of a seven-year child due to betel nut (Chhalia) that stuck up in his throat on Eid day.

Taimur Qambrani died in Tando Ghulam Ali, district Badin, on the day of Eid when betel nut stuck up in his throat.

In a statement, PMA Karachi Chapter Honorary General Secretary Dr Qaiser Sajjad said consumption of banned eatables, especially Chhalia and Gutka in children and youths was rising across the country, particularly in Karachi.

He regretted that due to lack of check on manufacture and sale of these items such cases had increased. Unfortunately, he said, the parents themselves provided such things or gave money to their children to purchase what was harmful to health.

He pointed out that Chhalia and Gutka were openly being sold within or outside the premises of educational institutes both schools and colleges, at shops and vendors. He said due to open sale of these items children are suffering from different diseases.

He said choking of throat with these things could lead to sudden death of small children. These things can also cause diseases including sub-mucous fibrosis in children and youths, boils of mouth that mostly lead to cancer in elders.

“Presently, some 50-60 percent of cases of cancers is of tongue and throat,” he added and deplored that there was no check on open sale or preparation of Chhalia and Gutka by provincial government.

Dr Sajjad said the PMA had been repeatedly demanding the government to impose ban on sale of such harmful things within one kilometre of premises of the educational institutions. He lamented that no steps had yet been taken by authorities concerned in this regard.

He said the lower staff of government and private educational institutions were mostly seen eating Gutka or Chhalia during duty hours, which tends innocent children to take the same, leading to dangerous consequences.

The PMA office-bearer demanded the government to impose ban on import of such things. It also demanded passing of a bill regarding stopping advertisement of such harmful eatables by the provincial assembly and ensuring strict implementation on it, he said. He advised citizens, especially parents, that usage of such things could prove dangerous to lives of their innocent kids, therefore, they should refrain children to use such things.—PPI