In a seminar organised by Ziauddin University in Karachi to spread awareness about different types of cancer, Dr Naila Zahid, an oncologist, talked about menace of smoking, informed rightly that 80 per cent of lung cancer is related to smoking. In Pakistan, 1200 children from age 08 to 10 years start smoking every day. Approximately 5000 people are admitted in the hospitals owing to tobacco related diseases and more than 100,000 people die every year (274 every day) due to smoking.
According to Oncology experts, direct smoking, secondhand smoking, chewing tobacco, using pan, chewing gutka and Sheesha cause various cancers including acute myeloid leukemia, lung cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer and bladder cancer etc. To establish healthy society teachers, civil society activists, scholars and media have to play their role in creating awareness and educating people about the deadly disease.
SHAIKH ABDUL RASHEED,
Sindh, February 13.