There are currently about 1.5 million adults suffering from tobacco-attributable illness in Bangladesh. With that in mind, the Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) of Bangladesh Medical Students' Society (BMSS) with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) organized the biggest medical student led 2 phase based Anti Tobacco Drive in Asia which consisted of a day-long master trainer program for medical students titled “Youth Vs. Tobacco” held at the seminar room of Permanent Campus of State University of Bangladesh on 17 March 2023 on the auspicious day of the 101st Birth Anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Two hundred fifty medical students from twenty medical colleges all over the country including government and private medical colleges participated at the training program completing phase 1 of the grand event.
The training program was constructed of three sessions on tobacco control,laws and smoking cessation along with a medical college based idea presentation and a short film competition. The program served as a platform to create more dialogues involving youth,the largest consumer of tobacco and making skilled medical professionals who will motivate and strategically work towards smoking cessation of their patients. Through inter sectoral collaborations, effective and innovative Anti Tobacco Campaigns as the likes of "Youth Vs. Tobacco", well aware health professionals conducting smoking cessation treatments and availability of medications at all hospitals and primary health care facilities will curb the health burden aiding non-communicable diseases due to Tobacco.
As discussants, Nilufer Nazneen Eva, Additional Secretary,Health Service Division, Ministry of Health and Family welfare ; Prof. M Mostafa Zaman, Adviser, Research and Publication, WHO ; Prof. Dr. Nawzia Yasmin,Vice Chancellor (In-charge), State University of Bangladesh ; Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, President-Elect Public Health Association of Bangladesh & Public Health Expert Advisor, DGHS MOHFW ; Dr. Sadhna Bhagwat, Team Lead, Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO ; Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO ; Dr Asm Ishtiak,National Consultant, Non-Communicable Diseases,WHO ; Dr.Farzana Akter Dorin, National Professional Officer, prevention of non communicable disease,WHO ; Dr. Myesha Maliha Binte Mamun, President Bangladesh Medical Students' Society was present at the training. Prof.M.Mostafa Zaman in his motivating speech said,"You don’t need training,these methods but if you are courageous enough,you can quit smoking."
Followed by the day-long intensive training, master trainers by 1 April to 16 April, conducted the phase 2 of the Anti Tobacco Drive. Nine medical colleges namely Dhaka Medical College, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College, Sheikh Hasina Jamalpur Medical College, Chandpur Medical College, Colonel Malek Medical College, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Green life Medical College, United Medical College participated in the execution of phase 2. The medical students had meetings with their principals to enforce the ban on tobacco and the initiative was widely appreciated by the honorable principal sirs of the respective medical colleges.The medical students reached the community by counseling patients in one on one conversation in hospital wards also holding peer to peer group discussions to motivate medical professionals to commit to achieving the prime minister's 2040 vision of making Bangladesh Tobacco Free. Undoubtedly medical students are serving the community in the most unique way by working together to prevent the silent tobacco epidemic looming over our nation.
Writer: Shirazum Munira is a 4th year medical student from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and the National Officer for Bangladesh Medical Students' Society. (arashamim01@gmail.com)
BDST: 1316 HRS, APR 24, 2023
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