Social Justice
World No Tobacco Day
- 31 May 2022
- 6 min read
For Prelims: World No Tobacco Day
For Mains: Health
Why in News?
31st May is observed as ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year to spread awareness around the deadly effects of tobacco consumption.
- The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
- In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
What are the Key Highlights?
- The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2022 is “Protect The Environment”.
- As per WHO, “The harmful impact of the tobacco industry on the environment is vast and growing, adding unnecessary pressure to our planet's already scarce resources and fragile ecosystems.”
- Every year, the WHO honours governments, organisations and individuals for their efforts and contributions to curbing tobacco use.
- This year, the WHO has selected Jharkhand for the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award-2022.
What are the Health Implications of Tobacco?
- Tobacco addiction has been recognised as the single largest cause of preventable death and disability worldwide.
- Every year millions of people die due to tobacco use.
- India accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths every year and it is also the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco.
- Nearly 80 lakh people die every year globally, of whom 13.5 lakh are Indians.
- Smoking causes death through cancer, heart attacks, brain strokes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and peripheral vascular diseases.
- Women smokers are increasing. Women face additional hazards like adverse pregnancy outcomes, female specific cancers such as cancer of breast, cervix, and increased cardiovascular risks.
- Unless sustained and effective initiatives are implemented the prevalence of female smoking is likely to rise to 20% by 2025.
What are the Environment Effects of Tobacco?
- Emission of Greenhouse Gas: More than 84 megatons of GreenHouse gas emissions occur in a year.
- Contamination of soil and water: Tobacco contaminates soil and water due to toxins and contamination of soil by the micro plastics in the cigarette butts and single use non-biodegradable pouches and e-cigarettes.
- Tonnes of water are used to make cigarettes.
- Deforestation: More than 60 million trees are chopped down to make cigarettes.
What is the Data for India?
- The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2010), carried out in 29 States and two Union Territories i.e Chandigarh and Pondicherry, has shown a declining trend among males, and an overall increasing trend of female smoking during 2005-09.
- The growing spending power among women and weakening of social and cultural constraints due to globalization and economic transition are seen as some of the reasons for this alarming trend.
What are the initiatives to prevent Tobacco consumption?
- WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): It is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.
- It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21st May 2003 and entered into force on 27th February 2005.
- The FCTC’s measures to combat tobacco use include:
- Price and tax measures.
- Large, graphic warnings on tobacco packages.
- 100% smoke-free public spaces.
- A ban on tobacco marketing.
- Support for smokers who want to quit.
- Prevention of tobacco industry interference.
- WHO introduced MPOWER, a package of technical measures and resources, each of which corresponds to at least one provision of the WHO FCTC.
- National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in 2007 to
- create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption,
- reduce the production and supply of tobacco products,
- ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” (COTPA)
- help the people quit tobacco use,
- and facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.
Way Forward
- The impact can be reduced by
- raising awareness among people, high taxation on tobacco products,
- making strict laws against smoking in public places,
- ban on direct and indirect forms of advertisements,
- active support to those who decide to quit tobacco to various means,
- imposing penalties on the tobacco companies for the environment damages,
- encourage and support tobacco farmers to shift to sustainable and alternative crops,
- health education from school-level and cancer screening for smokers and those quit smoking for early diagnosis of cancer.
