Pakistan: Quit Tobacco Day on First day of Ramazan

Source from:  The News International 07/08/2013

Announcing its decision to observe Quit Tobacco Day on the first day of Ramazan, the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has urged all Muslims to start the holy month with a pledge to give up the use of tobacco, which kills 100,000 people every year in Pakistan, and 5.4 million people worldwide.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the central president of PIMA Dr. Misbah-ul-Aziz said, even second-hand smoke kills 600,000 people each year globally. About half of tobacco users' death is caused by a tobacco-related disease, which may include major cancers, heart and lung diseases, and stroke, among others. Tobacco is more addictive than heroin. Its use causes losses worth billions of rupees every year by way of health expenditure; this amount is far greater than the revenue it generates, he said.

The PIMA president said, Herculean efforts are needed to urge and help tobacco users to quit smoking. "PIMA has decided to be part of a nationwide anti-tobacco campaign and by doing so, aims to contribute its share to tobacco control advocacy on a regular basis. Our central executive council has decided that in addition to May 31, we will observe 1st Ramazan as National Quit Tobacco Day," he announced.

Ramazan is a month of blessings for Muslims. It is that time of the year when adopting good habits and quitting bad ones is relatively easier. "Many smokers, who fast quit smoking wholly or partially during this month. Doctors should take advantage of daytime abstinence from tobacco, and urge smokers to take a step ahead and give it up altogether in this month," the PIMA president urged. "Smokers need to be apprised of the health risks of tobacco, as well as the fact that Islam considers it 'makrooh' (disliked)," he added. Quitting tobacco is difficult because of its addictive potential; many smokers cannot do this unless encouraged and helped. Different strategies are needed for different people, addressing the respective sensitive points that can bring them to accept the need to begin quitting. Enditem