Every year on 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners observe "World No Tobacco Day", advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – a threat to development”. This year the day has been observed throughout Bangladesh in a befitting manner by the Government and various non-Government organizations. The main programme was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, jointly organized by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) and WHO Country Office for Bangladesh.
In his speech Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mr Mohammed Nasim, MP reiterated the need for joining hands to combat tobacco in Bangladesh. Hon’ble State Minister of Health Mr Zahid Malik, MP confirmed Government’s strong commitment to control tobacco in the country.
WHO Representative to Bangladesh, Dr N. Paranietharan, called upon tobacco users to use Ramadan as an opportunity to quit tobacco which would be the best gift a tobacco user can bring to his or her family during upcoming Eid Ul Fitar.
Earlier, on May 30, 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) announced the award winners of World No Tobacco Day 2017. Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh Member of Parliament is one of the five awardees from South East Asia Region. He has been selected for the World No Tobacco Day Award for “initiating inclusion of tobacco control in the country’s seventh five year plan in 2015, for sustainable resources for the programme. Strongly advocating for increasing tax on tobacco, Mr Chowdhury has been promoting for tobacco control for sustainable development” as per the citation of the award from WHO SEARO.
Tobacco use costs national economies enormously through increased health-care costs and decreased productivity. In Bangladesh, smoking alone causes an estimated total economic loss of BDT 16,000 crore per year, equivalent to about 1.4% of annual GDP. Tobacco use worsens health inequalities and exacerbates poverty, as the poorest people using tobacco spend less on essentials such as food and education, and are forced to spend more on health care.
Tobacco control can break the cycle of poverty and promote sustainable economic growth. WHO is calling on countries to prioritize and accelerate tobacco control efforts as part of their response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All countries benefit from successfully controlling the tobacco epidemic, above all by protecting their citizens from the harms of tobacco use and reducing its economic toll on national economies.
This can be achieved through a stronger enforcement of tobacco control legislation, raising the price of tobacco through taxation, and protecting tobacco control policies from interference from the tobacco industry. WHO fully supports the government of Bangladesh in its efforts to provide a healthier environment for its citizens and to achieve the long term goal of Tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040.