30 hospitals now ‘no smoking, paan, gutka’ zones

Sindh Medical College (SMC) Alumni Association, in its ongoing awareness campaign about hazards of smoking, paan, gutka and chhalia, has successfully managed imposition of a complete and effective ban on these on the premises of more than 30 hospitals and clinics in the city.
Dr Natasha Mustafa, coordinator of the campaign, said on Friday that the SMC graduates, comprising doctors associated with different medical care facilities, are also actively supported by the students of the college in the campaign.
“Our team comprising 250 volunteers not only motivated the administrators, but also got actively involved with doctors, nurses and paramedics of these facilities to play their role in the campaign,” she said.
In reply to a question, she said that the campaign, initiated in solidarity with the World No Tobacco Day, had begun on April 16 and would continue until May 31.
It has been divided into three phases; the first phase, she said, is focused on spreading awareness among the patients and staff at hospitals and clinics of Karachi, followed by the phase of spreading awareness among people in different neighbourhoods of the city.
“Phase three of the campaign is equally crucial, as awareness will be attempted to be raised among students of different schools and colleges,” said Dr Mustafa.
In reply to another question, she said that both private and public sector hospitals – that among other facilities also include PNS Shifa – scattered across the city are being covered by volunteers.
“Around 3,000 people, including patients, paramedical staff, attendants and other workers of different hospitals, have also joined our volunteers,” she said.
These workers also included Tariq, a laundry boy at the Karachi Adventist Hospital, who used to consume two to four packets of naswar daily and never thought it to be harmful for him.