Call for action to protect women from effects of tobacco

24 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Bss, Dhaka

Speakers at a workshop in the city yesterday underscored the need for actions to protect women from the harmful effects of tobacco as smokeless tobacco and Second Hand Smoking (SHS) cause serious health hazards to women and children in Bangladesh. They said SHS disproportionately harms women and children than men as prevalence of smoking is much higher in men at all spheres of national life. The workshop titled “Women and tobacco: World No-Tobacco Day 2010” was organised by Progga, an NGO dealing with anti-tobacco campaign. Progga Chairman Taifur Rahman made a presentation at the workshop. Executive Director Syed Badrul Karim Ratan was also present. Representatives from social and development organisations attended the workshop. In his presentation, Taifur said although women smoke less than men, yet non-smoking women and girls are the most sufferers of SHS and are put in the risks of lung cancer and other health problems due to SHS exposure from male. Referring to the World No-Tobacco Day 2010 to be observed on May 31, he said this years' theme is “Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women.” He referred to the WHO framework convention that recognises “The need for gender-specific tobacco control strategies” as well as for the “Full participation of women at all levels of tobacco control policy-making and implementation of tobacco control measures.”