No smoking in medical colleges & hospitals: Nasim

Staff Correspondent: Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said if students, teachers, physicians and employees are found smoking and taking tobaccos in universities, medical colleges and hospitals, action will be taken against them.

The minister said this while addressing a discussion at the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium, marking World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on Wednesday.

Highlighting the theme titled "Tobacco - a threat to development" for the day, Nasim said, "There will be 50 percent of bed for men and 50 percent of bed for women in the hospitals in future. If a patient admitted to the hospitals is seen taking tobacco including smoking, he and his family members will not be given any treatment."

The health minister said smoking is like taking poison. Taking tobacco leads a man to death. It has no benefits. Tobacco cultivation makes no profit. Alternative option to tobacco cultivation should be considered.

Alongside the roles played by the government officials, family members can also play a vital role to ensure a smoking-free zone, he added.

risingbd/DHAKA/May 31, 2017/Shawon/Amirul