Tobacco consumption rate reduces by 8pc

Staff Correspondent:  A survey of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 has showed that tobacco users have declined by eight per cent in Bangladesh in the last eight years.

“It showed that at present the consumption rate among the population aged 15 is 35.3 per cent which was 43.3 pct in 2009,” said the survey.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim on Tuesday unveiled the factsheet of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017 conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the US at the ministry conference room at the Secretariat in the city.

The consumption rate significantly reduced among men — from 58 per cent to 46 per cent. Among women, it reduced to only 25.2 per cent from the previous 28.7 per cent as the smokeless tobacco which women mostly chew did not decrease compared to smoking products.

State Minister Zahid Maleque, Secretary Sirajul Huq, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, National Anti-tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) president Mozaffar Hossain Paltu and representatives from different foreign organisations were present on the occasion.



risingbd/ Dhaka/Aug 14, 2018/Sawon/Mukul