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National Advocacy Conference on Tobacco Control
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The policy makers, opinion formers, legislators and tobacco control advocates gathered in Islamabad, reinforced their commitment for effective tobacco control in Pakistan, resulting in formulation of a Grand National Alliance for Tobacco Control. The decision was made in National Advocacy Conference on Tobacco Control organized by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Tobacco Control Cell at Islamabad Hotel on October 28, 2009. The event was inaugurated by the DG Health, Dr. Rasheed Juma and Concluded by Ms. Yasmeen Rehman, Member National Assembly and Standing Committee on Health and Human Rights.
DG Health Dr. Rasheed Juma stressed to create volunteer groups to report the violations of tobacco control legislation and he appealed all the health professionals to take an oath to discourage smoking and educate their patients.
Pakistan lacks implementation of tobacco control legislation due to lack of awareness and civic education, Dr. Khalif Bille the country representative of WHO stated while addressing the conference.
The ministry of health is taking the initiative to introduce the pictorial warnings legislation into domestic legislation by February 2010 and joining the select list of countries have introduced this legislation, Dr. Arif Azad, Executive Coordinator TheNetwork for Consumer Protection stated while appreciating the role of tobacco control cell. Ms. Mehnaz Paracha from TheNetwork for Consumer Protection emphasized for more coordinated efforts and commitment from tobacco control advocates to strengthen the tobacco control cell and efforts to control tobacco epidemic.
Mrs. Shaheen Masud shared the achievements of tobacco control cell since the establishment of the cell. She shared the challenges and obstacles tobacco control cell is dealing with due to lack of funds which hampers the efforts made by ministry during a short time period as introduction of pictorial warnings and initiative for smoke free railways.
The conference was participated by a large number of participants from all walk of life including representatives from ministry of railways, ministry of tourism, ministry of industries & commerce, ministry of religious affairs, ministry of law and federal board of revenue, health professionals, civil society organization, legal experts, educationists and media persons.
Dr. Syeda Mazhar Batool shared her that 50% of pregnant and lactating mothers are passive smokers which cause pre-mature deaths. Professor Dr. Nusrat Ara, the cardiologist and head of medicine of Rawalpindi medical college and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital highlighted that 9 out of 10 patients comes with heart attacks are found smokers. Representative from Higher Education Commission, Ms. Noor Amna Malik stated that HEC is taking the initiative to declare all universities smoke free.
Ms. Yasmeen Rehman Member National Assembly suggested education ministry to include tobacco control in the curriculum of schools to educate the youth. Moreover she stressed the need to sensitize parliamentarians to generate the debate to make tobacco control a part of national health policy and plan. Pakistan needs to formulate a policy for alternate crop than tobacco with the help of all stakeholders to curb the tobacco menace in future. She ensured that she will be taking up tobacco control issue on the floor of parliament and various committees to reduce the tobacco consumption and burden of tobacco related diseases in Pakistan.
While highlighting the lacunas of tobacco control legislation, Mr. Majid Bashir, the director legal, Press Council of Pakistan emphasized to simplify the legislation for effective implementation mechanism. The tobacco control law is based on morality so the penalties under the law need to be revised after the consultation with all stake holders.
Mr. Shahfqat Muneer, the development journalist recommended that 20 percent of the media space should be utilized for public health issues like tobacco control.
At the end of the conference a resolution was passed to be submitted to the legislators by all stake holders on the platform of Grand National Alliance for Tobacco Control appealing to the Government of Pakistan to undertake comprehensive tobacco control measures to reduce public health expenditures incurred on account of tobacco related diseases and deaths, to regulate illicit tobacco trade and impose heavy taxes on tobacco industry to reduce tobacco consumption.
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