Frequent use of tobacco in slums threat to public health
Speakers tell survey launching programme
Frequent use of harmful substances like tobacco and betel nuts in the slum areas of Bangladesh is posing a threat to public health, said speakers at a launching programme of a survey report yesterday.
The slum-dwellers suffer from nutritional deficiency, as they can't take balanced diet rather they use harmful substances. They largely depend on cereals, lentils and vegetables for daily calorie, says the survey.
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) of IUBAT launched the survey report at the National Press Club in the city.
The survey titled "Benchmarking the Nutritional Status of Women in the Tongi-Ashulia Road Slums" was conducted by IUBAT College of Nursing students on a sample of 120 married women of the families living in the shanty communities Abdullapur/Kamarpara area near Tongi-Ashulia road early this year.
Among the "ultra poor' the majority experience inadequate calorie intake, it says adding that an unduly high percentage of the calorie intake among the poor under the study derives from cereals, primarily rice.
The study reveals that "Diets among the poor typically lack adequate quantities from the full range of food groups. This lack leads to inadequate intake of necessary micronutrients (minerals and vitamins), which in turn stunts growth and increases the risk of succumbing to numerous non-communicable diseases."
Basic dietary knowledge among many in Bangladesh, rich and poor, is weak. Among the poor this lacks is particularly acute, it concludes.
Quoting survey, John Richards, one of the researchers of the survey, said over six percent of diets were 'risky,' a large majority of 89 percent was 'fair' and five percent were 'good' while none was rated 'excellent.'
He said 38 percent consumed excessive servings of foods high in fat and sugar content which is associated with a high incidence of heart disease and type-2 diabetes.
The survey reveals that only one-third people protected their families by using either boiled tap water or deep tubewell water for drinking purposes. The rest were suffering serious health hazards for not drinking safe water.
The use of tobacco and betel nut is high in the shanties, which further expose them to serious health risk, says the survey.
Among others, Vice-chancellor of IUBAT Prof Dr M Alimullah Miyan and Professor Dr Karen Lund and chairman of IUBAT College of nursing, were present.
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