MANAS, Diabetic Association sign agreement on anti-tobacco program
Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) and Madhakdrobya O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (Association for the Prevention of Drug Abuse- MANAS) have reached an agreement to work together on tobacco control.
The BADAS and the MANAS have signed an agreement as they will work together to implement the programmes on diabetes and tobacco control.
The agreement signing ceremony was held at the conference room of Diabetic Association in Dhaka on Sunday (April 24).
National Professor AK Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association; and Professor Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury, founder president of MANAS; attended the function as the chief guest and chief discussant respectively. The duo signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Secretary General of Diabetic Association Mohammad Saif Uddin presided over the function, while Professor Murtaza KI Quayyum Choudhury, director general of BIRDEM; and Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, vice president of BADAS; also spoke on the occasion. Matiur Rahman Talukder, organizing secretary of MANAS, delivered the welcome address, while Salma Parveen, project coordinator of the organization; moderated the event.
In his speech, AK Azad Khan said that there is no good side of tobacco. Its cultivation has to be banned in order to make the country tobacco-free. Awareness programmes need to be stepped up to encourage people to quit smoking.
Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury said that tobacco and diabetes are now an epidemic. Mortality due to tobacco is much higher than major epidemics, including Covid-19. MANAS has been working for about 33 years to control drugs and tobacco in Bangladesh. It is a great inspiration for others in the health sector that Diabetic Association of Bangladesh has joined the anti-tobacco movement.
“We hope that BADAS will play a vital role in accelerating the tobacco control movement,” he added.
He called for making all affiliated institutions of BADAS, including BIRDEM Hospital, completely tobacco-free. Prof Murtaza KI Quayyum Choudhury said that BIRDEM Hospital has been made smoking-free. The hospital will take immediate initiative to stop the consumption of jorda, gul and other tobacco products.
