Tobacco control act to be amended says Bangladesh Health Minister

 ‘WHO WNTD 2009 Award’ handed over to the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Professor A F M  Ruhal Haque, by WHO, Bangladesh

The World No Tobacco Day 2009 Award, given over by the Director General of WHO, has been handed over to Professor A F M  Ruhal Haque, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, on 14 July in a ceremonial observance of the “World No Tobacco Day”,  organized by WHO Country Office in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh.

WHO recognizes individuals or organizations for World No Tobacco Day Awards in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.

Prof Dr A F M Ruhal Haque has been conferred the award for his commitment and sincere effort to introduce effective “Tobacco Health Warnings”- on packages of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The award includes a memento and certificate of appreciation from the Director General, WHO.

Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, formally handed over the award to the Health Minister.

In her remarks,  Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, WHO representative to Bangladesh, said that use of pictures with graphic depictions of disease and other harmful effects have a greater impact than words alone and is critical in reaching a very large number of people who cannot read, in countries like Bangladesh. She drew attention to expedite the process to amend the existing tobacco control law with full compliance of WHO FCTC to include pictorial health warnings on tobacco products.

Receiving the award the Health Minister, Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, said that the Bangladesh Government has taken initiatives to amend the existing tobacco control act incorporating pictorial health warnings on tobacco products to control tobacco consumption. "The amended version of the law will be submitted to the law ministry soon for its recommendation," the Minister added that ”we will expedite the process at cabinet division and parliament secretariat to raise a bill in the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) soon”.

Attending the programme as the chief guest, the Prime Minster's Health Adviser, Dr Syed Modasser Ali, stressed the need for tobacco control activities at each community clinic.