The responsibility of the media lies in propagating messages against tobacco consumption in every form, and about the obligation that falls on political and religious leaders for spreading the public service message.
This was stated at a consultation meeting titled ‘Impact of devolution on tobacco control initiatives and curbing the smokeless tobacco epidemic’, held under the aegis of the Coalition for Tobacco Control-Pakistan, the National Organisation for Working Communities (NOWC), and the Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) at a local hotel on Thursday.
Speaking at the moot, renowned otolaryngologist Dr Qaiser Sajjad of the Pakistan Medical Association Centre stated that the nation has come past drafting laws.
Stressing upon implementation of laws, Sajjad urged that individuals have to play their role in disseminating knowledge about the hazards of smoking and consumption of paan, gutka and naswar.
“If the masses are informed about how these products are prepared, and about the basic facts, like even plain betel nut can be carcinogenic, then we could achieve our purpose,” he said.
Reiterating Sajjad’s view, Dr Wahid Bakhsh said that he has successfully made some of his patients quit gutka and paan habits after they were enlightened about the processing of gutka.
“They could not believe that they were eating addictive, poisonous colours and blood,” Bakhsh added.
The participants of the session blamed the educated class of the society for knowingly promoting consumption of life-threatening tobacco products.
Citing the example of the distribution of sweet supari at weddings, Sajjad said that while inadvertently encouraging consumption of such products, people forget that betel nut is as carcinogenic as cigarettes or shisha.
He said that 122 brands of sweet supari are on sale across the city at present, despite the fact that Pakistan is not even a producer of betel nut.
Criticising the rising culture of shisha among the educated class, it was discussed that law enforcers have failed to take appropriate action against the perpetrators.
The Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smoker Health Law passed in 2002 by the federal government remains a joke, with violations happening regularly.
It was urged that a stringent ban be imposed on the sale of chhalia, gutka and cigarettes within 50 metres of schools. The participants of the meeting reached the conclusion that behaviours regarding these issues need to be changed, and interactive activities like theatre could make a real difference in the effort.
SAMAR and NOWC plan to hold more sessions across the metropolitan this week to raise a voice against tobacco consumption.
