\'No\' to tobacco

THE world observes "No tobacco day" with the help of the World Health Organisation on May 31 every year and our country is also no exception. Increasing number of smokers is a problem for the developing world as a whole and we are also struggling with similar problem.  People take tobacco in various forms like cigarette, bidi, jorda, hookah, chewing leaves, cigar etc. and each form of tobacco intake is equally dangerous for our health. The good news is that our body heals the damages done by tobacco pretty soon after we quit smoking.
 We urgently need to raise awareness about the health hazards of smoking and guide them to live a better life.  Social media can also play an important role to launch effective campaigns against smoking with documentaries depicting true stories of people affected by different diseases from smoking or eating tobacco. The number of smokers in our country is around 22 million and we are not talking about using tobacco leaves. Cigarettes and tobacco products are cheap and affordable in our country which is encouraging more people to use it. The government should increase taxes on tobacco items so that they are expensive and people are compelled to stay away from them. Health is our most precious wealth and we cannot allow it to be destroyed by tobacco.  Let us say 'no' to tobacco and 'yes' to life!

Saiful Islam
Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka