WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY (WNTD) AWARD-2022

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• 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.

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.

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.

Environment Effects of Tobacco

• More than 84 megatons of GreenHouse gas emissions occur in a year.
• 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.
• More than 60 million trees are chopped down to make cigarettes.

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.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT