Tobacco control training scheduled on April 4

Islamabad : A one-day Training of Trainers (TOT) aimed at building the capacity of designated focal persons nominated by federal ministries for enforcement of tobacco control measures will be held at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on April 4.

In a letter issued to all federal ministries and Divisions, the Ministry of National Health Services has conveyed that the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 7 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing secondhand smoke. More than 80% of these preventable deaths are among people living in low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, tobacco causes around 160,000 deaths every year.

To protect lives, the government is implementing ‘Tobacco-Smoke Free Islamabad’ initiative through awareness, signage and enforcement of tobacco control laws. District Implementation & Monitoring Committee (DI&MC) on tobacco control work under the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad for implementing tobacco control laws in the capital. The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker’s Health Ordinance 2002 is main legal framework for implementation.

Building the capacity of focal persons for enforcement would enable the enforcement of tobacco control laws and curb the tobacco epidemic, thereby saving lives.