Minister Maithripala Sirisena has said that 20 percent of beds in Government Hospitals are allocated for those who are hospitalized due to the use of tobacco. He revealed that the number which dies is more than 60 a day and 20,000 a year.
The Minister gave these statistics joining in a Parliamentary debate on orders that pictorial warnings should be included in the pack of cigarettes under the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act.
The Minister said that 20 percent of the beds in Government Hospitals are set aside for diseases contracted due to the use of drugs. He said that the number which dies per year due to smoking is more than 20,000. If such a vast number is killed due to this menace, the Minister pointed out that it is national responsibility to overcome this situation. 2014 has been declared as the year sans alcohol is to achieve the aim of building a society free of drugs for the posterity.
Parliamentarian Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that they have no objections to the initiatives taken by the Health Minister to minimize health issues due to smoking. He said he considered that they as an Opposition should support this move.
Parliamentarian Sudarshani Fernandopulle said that smoking among youth has considerably declined at present. She said that everyone should unite to save the youth from smoking and drugs. These should not be made political issues.
Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa said that 6.6 million die annually in the world due to smoking. He said 270 million rupees were burnt in this country daily. This could be used for health and education development. It is about 50 billion rupees per year. He commended these initiatives taken by the Government to save the people of this country from this menace.
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