E-cigarettes a serious threat to Bangladesh’s health sector: Experts

The whole health system of the country is under a serious threat as the use of e-cigarette among young people is on the rise, said the director of the National Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) Professor Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora.

She made the remarks at a seminar titled “Tobacco and Non-Communicable Diseases: Importance of Tobacco Control Act” in line with World Health Organisation‍‍`s "FCTC" in protecting public health at CIRDAP on Thursday.

National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Public Health Association of Bangladesh organised the seminar.

She also said that currently the level of smoking is increasing among women as well. They are also becoming addicted to e-cigarettes.

"It is necessary to immediately ban the import and export of harmful products like e-cigarettes to protect the public health of the youth. For this reason, existing tobacco control laws should be amended in the light of WHO FCTC," she also said.

Former director general of Health Directorate and President of Public Health Association of Bangladesh Shah Monir Hossain presided over the seminar while president elect of Public Health Association of Bangladesh Abu Jamil Foysal delivered the welcome speech.

Head of Department of Disease and Research of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute Dr. Professor Sohel Reza Chowdhury and Organising Secretary of Public Health Association Nizam Uddin Ahmed presented the main article in the seminar.
They said that non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and long-term respiratory diseases are increasing in our country due to the use of tobacco products. At present, 67 percent of the total deaths in the country are caused by non-communicable diseases. And the cause of this non-communicable disease is mainly smoking and use of tobacco products.

They also said that 3. 78 crore adults use tobacco in the country while 3. 84 crore adults are exposed to passive smoking in public places including workplaces and public transport. About 161,000 people die every year due to various diseases related to tobacco.

Dr. Shah Monir Hossain said that Bangladesh is at the top of South Asia in terms of tobacco consumption. This is because Bangladesh is yet to achieve the best standards in terms of creating a smoke-free environment and advertising and promotion of tobacco products.

He also demanded that the existing tobacco control law needs to be amended to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At the same time, everyone should come forward to eradicate tobacco.

General Secretary of Public Health Association ASM Shahidullah, Dr. Nadira Sultana, nutritionist Tasnima Haque, Chief Executive Officer of Savar Municipality Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and representatives of various anti-tobacco organisations were present.