Tobacco is the most preventable cause of death and disease in the world today. Tobacco is a risk factor for 6 out of the 8 leading causes of death. Globally approximately 6 million people die each year as a result of diseases caused by tobacco consumption. If urgent action is not taken, the death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.
Tobacco harms the health, treasury, and spirit of Bangladesh. Every year, about 161,200 people are killed by tobacco-caused diseases. Over 172,000 children (10-14 years) and about 25m adults (15+ years) keep using tobacco every day. Non-communicable diseases (NCD) account for 67% of all deaths, and tobacco causes about one in every five deaths in the country. The diseases like lung cancer, stroke, heart attack and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) that may happen among smokers due to smoking can also happen among non-smokers for exposure to tobacco smoke known as secondhand smoke (SHS). Due to SHS, premature or stillbirth and asthma and chronic respiratory problem or sudden infant death may happen.
In Bangladesh, tobacco usage kills more than 1,61000 people (WHO 2018) annually. While SHS kills 25,000 non-smokers every year, more than 61,000 children get affected in serious diseases that compelled the government to spend 4,130 (Four thousand one hundred and thirty crore) taka for treatment of those affected by SHS (Bangladesh Cancer Society, 2018).
In synergy with the abovementioned tobacco control activities, Vital Strategies has planned to implement a tipping point campaign to go on air in major private TV channels from 19th March to 13th May, 2023 supporting the government’s current efforts to amend the tobacco control law. The campaign primarily focuses on 100% smoke-free public places, however though not specifically, it will support as a whole the current law amendment initiative by the government.
To protect non-smokers from exposure to SHS, government of Bangladesh banned smoking in public places and public transports by the Tobacco Control Law 2005. Government amended this TC law in 2013 by which many public places were made 100% smoke free including educational institutions, all kinds of health centers and hospitals, children park and one-room public place and public transport. But current law allows designated smoking area (DSA) in such public places with more than one room that derail the enforcement of TC law. These findings had been revealed also in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 that was jointly conducted by the National Tobacco Control Cell, Health Services Division and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
GATS 2017 data reveal that adults among 15 years and above were exposed to second hand smoke (SHS)- 49.7% in restaurants, 44% in public transports, 42.7% in enclosed workplace, 21.6% in government buildings and 12.7% in health centers (including hospitals). These findings have given clear indication that to protect non-smokers from SHS, it is necessary to ensure 100% smoke free environment in the public places and public transports. This can be achieved through the amendment of the current law by removing provision for Designated Smoking Area (DSA).
100% smoke Free Public Places
Tobacco is the most preventable cause of death and disease in the world today. Tobacco is a risk factor for 6 out of the 8 leading causes of death. Globally approximately 6 million people die each year as a result of diseases caused by tobacco consumption. If urgent action is not taken, the death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.
Tobacco harms the health, treasury, and spirit of Bangladesh. Every year, about 161,200 people are killed by tobacco-caused diseases. Over 172,000 children (10-14 years) and about 25m adults (15+ years) keep using tobacco every day. Non-communicable diseases (NCD) account for 67% of all deaths, and tobacco causes about one in every five deaths in the country. The diseases like lung cancer, stroke, heart attack and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) that may happen among smokers due to smoking can also happen among non-smokers for exposure to tobacco smoke known as secondhand smoke (SHS). Due to SHS, premature or stillbirth and asthma and chronic respiratory problem or sudden infant death may happen.
In Bangladesh, tobacco usage kills more than 1,61000 people (WHO 2018) annually. While SHS kills 25,000 non-smokers every year, more than 61,000 children get affected in serious diseases that compelled the government to spend 4,130 (Four thousand one hundred and thirty crore) taka for treatment of those affected by SHS (Bangladesh Cancer Society, 2018).
In synergy with the abovementioned tobacco control activities, Vital Strategies has planned to implement a tipping point campaign to go on air in major private TV channels from 19th March to 13th May, 2023 supporting the government’s current efforts to amend the tobacco control law. The campaign primarily focuses on 100% smoke-free public places, however though not specifically, it will support as a whole the current law amendment initiative by the government.
To protect non-smokers from exposure to SHS, government of Bangladesh banned smoking in public places and public transports by the Tobacco Control Law 2005. Government amended this TC law in 2013 by which many public places were made 100% smoke free including educational institutions, all kinds of health centers and hospitals, children park and one-room public place and public transport. But current law allows designated smoking area (DSA) in such public places with more than one room that derail the enforcement of TC law. These findings had been revealed also in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 that was jointly conducted by the National Tobacco Control Cell, Health Services Division and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
GATS 2017 data reveal that adults among 15 years and above were exposed to second hand smoke (SHS)- 49.7% in restaurants, 44% in public transports, 42.7% in enclosed workplace, 21.6% in government buildings and 12.7% in health centers (including hospitals). These findings have given clear indication that to protect non-smokers from SHS, it is necessary to ensure 100% smoke free environment in the public places and public transports. This can be achieved through the amendment of the current law by removing provision for Designated Smoking Area (DSA).
