The government of Bangladesh has issued strict instructions to ensure prevention of non-communicable diseases and tobacco-free environment at all the educational institutions and offices concerned across the country.
Tobacco use remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the country accounting for more than 1,61,000 deaths annually.
In Bangladesh, 35.3 per cent or 37.8 million population (aged above 15 years) uses any form of tobacco. Of them, 46 per cent are men and 25.2 per cent women. Nearly 7 per cent of students aged between 13 to 15 years also found to be using some form of tobacco in Bangladesh, according to Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2013.
The directives which have been sent to all the public and private educational institutes and education offices throughout the country from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.
“These instructions will reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases among the new generation alongside it will play supportive role to build a healthy and strong nation”, said the directorate’s Director Professor Dr Khan Mainuddin Al Mahmud Sohel.
Selling of tobacco products, use and publicity are strictly prohibited within 100 metres of the educational institutions, according to the directives. The directives have also asked to impose ‘joint declaration’ issued by the Health Services department.
All the educational institutions and offices must be declared ‘tobacco-free’ and also be displayed necessary signage there, said the directives.
A regular tobacco user is in a major risk for developing Hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Burger’s disease etc. Even the detrimental effect of tobacco does not spare the people around it, Dr Khan said.
The directives continued as saying that the second hand or passive smokers are also in risk of developing serious illness such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, wheeze, cough and breathlessness in case of infant and children and coronary heart diseases, lung cancer, nasal irritation and stroke etc.
And we all know that the malicious effect of this tobacco is not only affecting human health but also our environment from destroying the fertility of cultivable land to polluting the air: its harmful effect is everywhere, according to the Health Service Division directives.
The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21 May 2003, said that any kind of sponsorship or publicity of the tobacco industries is strictly banned in the educational institutions.
The WHO FCTC regulations also have asked on limitations of marketing unhealthy food and highly sugary drink at the educational institutions with an aim to ensure nutrition for the students. Instead of this, the instructions advised to set up ‘healthy canteen’ at the educational institutes as healthy alternative.
The canteens of food suppliers have to ensure little salt, sugar and free-trans-fat food for the students. Even fresh fruits, nuts and healthy snacks would to be supplied by the caterings from now at the government meetings.
The educational institutions have been asked to ensure at least 30 minutes moderate and high intensity physical exercises daily for raising physical capability of the students, said the instructions of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.
Besides, the instructions have asked to arrange swimming practice for the children and introducing desk-based stretching exercise every hour for the employees.
The government also has asked to ensure infrastructure design like stairs and ramp for women, children, physically-challenged and older people. Even the instructions have also been given to enhance consciousness for using stairs instead of lift, cycling and healthy lifestyle like not sitting idle for long time.
Every institute has been asked to send their regular report on their adopted measures to the special education cell of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.
