World No Tobacco Day 2022

World No Tobacco Day 2022

World No tobacco day is celebrated every year on 31st May. In 1988, the World Health Organization passed a resolution to observe ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year on May 31st to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco on the human body and to urge people to avoid the use of tobacco for at least one day.

The ‘World no Tobacco Day’ theme for 2022 is “Protect the Environment” to educate the world about the environmental impact of the entire tobacco cycle, from its cultivation, production, and distribution to the toxic waste it generates.

Why should Tobacco be avoided?

Usage of tobacco in any form can lead to cancer, cardiac diseases, strokes, respiratory diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic bronchitis.

Smoking Tobacco not only increases the risk for tuberculosis, and other respiratory diseases but it is also very harmful for the people around a smoker who are forced to inhale tobacco smoke. In certain cases, smoking can also cause the weakening of the immune system and rheumatoid arthritis.

According to the world health organization, Smoking alone causes more than 1million deaths every year in India and around 8 million deaths globally. More than 80% of these deaths are caused by direct tobacco use. On the other Hand, around 1.2 million non-smokers succumb to death because of passive smoking.

In 2007-08 the Government of India also launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) with the aim to,

(i) Create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

(ii) Reduce the production and supply of tobacco products.

(iii) Ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA).

(iv) To help people quit tobacco use.

(v) To facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control.