Staff Reporter:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain yesterday said anti-tobacco law needs to be strengthened to protect public health from the adverse impacts of tobacco.
He said tobacco is a serious addiction and there is no part of the human body that tobacco does not af-fect.
Offenders are being spared due to loopholes in the existing laws, he said, adding that the law needs to be strengthened to protect society from the clutches of tobacco.
Sakhawat Husain made the remarks while addressing a discussion at the International Mother Language Institute here on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day.
Speaking as the chief guest, he said the youth is now moving from tobacco consumption to other serious addictions. Those who smoke can be the biggest witnesses of how bad it is.
“Tobacco disrupts people’s sleep, reduces appetite and weight. Tobacco consumption causes cancer in cheeks and teeth,” the health minister observed.
Giving a stern warning against irregularities in the healthcare sector at the event, he said: “We want to ensure healthcare for the people. If anyone does anything bad or neglects healthcare, he/she will have to face the music.”
Referring to the action the government has taken against Ad-Din Medical College, Sakhawat Husain said: “We have taken the difficult decision to close the hospital due to inhumane service.
However, the medical college has not been closed. Students will be able to practice in other hospitals.”
Responding to a question about measles vaccination, he said the health department has been 100 percent effective and successful in measles vaccination in the country.
Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury and Director General of the Direc-torate General of Health Services Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas were present at the meeting, among others.
