A very important bill was introduced in the Sindh Assembly on Saturday to ensure implementation of the ban imposed on sale and purchase of hazardous gutka. The bill envisages imprisonment of one to six years and fine up to Rs 500,000 to violators.
Sindh government deserves appreciation for coming up with such an important legislation because oral cancer has become most prevalent amongst our men and youth due to the use of tobacco related products such as gutka, beetle nut, naswaar and smoking. It is expected that the bill will sail through provincial assembly without any opposition as it is very much related to health of public at large and one expects that other federating units will also do the needful to curb the use of these unhealthy and hazardous items. While strict punishment envisaged in the bill will definitely discourage the use of gutka, yet at the same time it is also important to check smuggling of betel nuts, chewing tobacco and other carcinogenic stuff from any source.
A continuous campaign should also be launched to create awareness about diseases including oral cancer and dental ailments so that people could protect themselves from perilous affects of such deadly items. In fact according to experts, almost ninety five percent of dental and oral diseases are preventable by adopting better oral hygiene practices.
