Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare‘s National Tobacco Control Cell recently initiated an eight-month-long comprehensive communication campaign, focusing on the detrimental impacts of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, along with proposed amendments to the existing tobacco control legislation. According to the latest press release, the campaign commenced with a public service announcement (PSA) entitled “What Damage Will This Cigarette/Bidi Do”.
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This effort received technical support from Vital Strategies, a global public health organization, for both its development and execution. The government plans to broadcast this campaign on BTV, incorporating it into the revenue budget. Simultaneously, Vital Strategies will augment this initiative by leveraging various digital platforms, such as Stop Tobacco Bangladesh‘s (STB) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and website, to extend its reach to a broader audience.
The initial video spot seeks to compel smokers to consider the implications of each cigarette or bidi they smoke, emphasizing the potential adverse outcomes, including heart attacks, cancer, lung disease, and various health complications. By underscoring the links between tobacco use and severe conditions like stroke, throat cancer, lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and heart disease—recognized as leading causes of mortality among tobacco users globally—the campaign strongly advocates for tobacco cessation.
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From January 1 to February 28, 2024, another PSA, titled ‘they win, we lose,’ will broadcast on BTV, shedding light on how the tobacco industry perpetuates its profits by promoting and vending these hazardous products, while individuals grapple with the loss of loved ones due to smoking and tobacco use. Subsequently, the third PSA, ‘100% smoke-free public places,’ airing from March 1 to April 30, 2024, aims to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of smoking in public areas, including restaurants. This PSA urges policymakers, parliamentarians, and stakeholders to eliminate Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) from remaining public spaces to safeguard non-smokers, women, and children from the health hazards posed by exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS).
Following this, the fourth PSA, ‘Harms of second-hand smoking,’ set to air from May 1 to June 30, 2024, will underscore the perils of second-hand smoke exposure and the impact of smoking. Notably, these PSAs were initially developed by Vital Strategies for other nations and have now been adopted for implementation in Bangladesh, following message-testing studies. It’s widely acknowledged that tobacco consumption detrimentally affects the health, economy, and overall development of Bangladesh. Annually, approximately 161,200 people succumb to tobacco-related illnesses, encompassing lung cancer, stroke, heart attack, and COPD. Additionally, these ailments can afflict non-smokers due to exposure to second-hand smoke, leading to premature or stillbirth, asthma, chronic respiratory issues, or sudden infant death. Shafiqul Islam, Head of Programmes in Bangladesh for Vital Strategies, emphasized the significance of this campaign in enhancing public awareness regarding the adverse impacts of tobacco use, smoking, and second-hand smoking. Describing the campaign’s forceful messages as pivotal in sensitizing smokers, tobacco users, and their families, Islam stressed the integration of established scientific information to encourage tobacco cessation and the establishment of smoke-free environments in public spaces and restaurants. Further, social media activities on the Stop Tobacco Bangladesh page on Facebook and the corresponding YouTube channel will support and amplify these campaign messages about creating 100% smoke-free public places.
