Karachi, The Aga Khan University’s Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) recently organized a series of theatre shows aimed at educating school-going children about the dangers of tobacco use. Held at the Arts Council of Pakistan, these shows drew an enthusiastic attendance of over 4,000 students aged between 11 to 15 from The Citizen Foundation, Zindagi Trust, and various private and government schools, along with their teachers and staff.

According to The Aga Khan University, the theatrical production, conceived and brought to life by the CHS faculty at AKU, was penned and directed by Farhan Alam of the National Academy of Performing Arts. The performances resonated with the young audiences, effectively conveying the message of how tobacco consumption can lead to addiction, resulting in severe health problems and hindering future life prospects.

The initiative was part of a project funded by the NIHR, UK, known as “Addressing Smokeless Tobacco Use and Building Research Capacity in South Asia – ASTRA.” This project is led by Professor Javaid Ahmed Khan from the Department of Medicine and supported by Dr. Romaina Iqbal, Associate Professor and Section Head of NCD in the Department of Community Health Sciences at AKU.

The play centered around the narrative of three brave children who confront and oppose the deceptive sellers of tobacco products in their community. Their mission underscored the need to eliminate such harmful practices from their families and society at large.

Faculty members highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting the prevalence of tobacco use among older generations in many households from which the children hail. The play aimed to educate these young students about the dangers of tobacco indulgence, empowering them to avoid tobacco themselves and advise others in their homes to do the same.

School administrations involved expressed their gratitude to the AKU-CHS faculty for presenting such an insightful and impactful act, recognizing its significance in safeguarding the well-being of their students in the long term.