‘Over 8m die annually from smoking-related diseases’

LAHORE : Smoking is causing lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases. More than eight million deaths occur in the world every year due to smoking-related diseases. Anti-smoking is not the responsibility of governments but it requires a collective effort. Parents should keep an eye on their children and inform them about the harms of tobacco.

The war against smoking can only be won by launching a comprehensive awareness campaign.

Principal Ameeruddin Medical College (AMC) Prof Dr Farooq Afzal expressed these views while giving an awareness lecture to medical students on the topic of “No Tobacco, Choose Life” on the occasion of ‘World No Tobacco Day’ at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) on Saturday.

Prof Farooq Afzal highlighted that lung cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and many other deadly diseases are related to smoking, not only smokers but also non-smokers around them are affected, they also suffer the consequences.

This process is called "peso smoking". If a person in the family smokes, then his family and other family members are also present with him, it has double effects. On the one hand, his children and other young people develop a passion for this practice, and on the other hand, they are directly exposed to the negative effects of its smoke.

Principal AMC said that smoking is becoming a serious problem in our country, the young generation is especially affected by it, although many steps have been taken at the government level, such as banning smoking in public places and educational institutions as well as banning advertising of tobacco products, etc., but the implementation of these laws is weak and the availability of tobacco products at cheap prices everywhere in the market is not achieving the desired results of ending smoking.

Prof. Farooq Afzal said that it is not easy to quit smoking after getting addicted to it, but if a person is determined, everything is possible, with a little effort and willpower, this habit can be permanently eradicated.

He appealed that teachers should launch awareness campaigns in educational institutions, the media should promote a healthy lifestyle and launch a strict campaign against smoking, reporting in case of violation of laws in public places should be promoted. He said that World No Tobacco Day provides us with an opportunity to think collectively, take action and raise our voice against tobacco. This is not just a one-day message, but a permanent mindset through which we can make our society healthy, safe and prosperous.

It should be noted that World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on May 31st around the world to make people aware of the harmful effects of smoking and promote a healthy lifestyle. This day was started by the World Health Organization in 1987, and since then this day has become a strong global message against the scourge of tobacco.