An event was organized virtually to mark the World No Tobacco Day and led the pledge by everyone present to abstain from Tobacco.
Context
An event was organized virtually to mark the World No Tobacco Day and led the pledge by everyone present to abstain from Tobacco.
About the World No Tobacco Day 2021
- Background: World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987.
- It was to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
- In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed which called for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
- Theme: “Commit to Quit” was the theme of the “World No Tobacco Day” 2021
- India’s position: In India, over 1.3 million deaths are attributable to tobacco use every year amounting to 3500 deaths per day.
- Economic Costs of Diseases and Deaths Attributable to Tobacco Use in India is amounting to approx 1% of GDP.
Efforts by Indian Government
- ‘Cigarettes Act, 1975’ which mandates display of statutory health warnings in advertisement and on cartons and cigarette packages.
- · Delhi Prohibition of smoking and Non Smokers Health Protection Act’, 1997
- This very statute became the model for Central Legislation banning smoking in public places in 2002, on the directions of Supreme Court.
- Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act –COTPA, 2003]- It aims to provide smoke free public places and also places restrictions on tobacco advertisement and promotion.
- ‘Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019’ - prohibits Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement of e-Cigarettes.
- The National Health Policy 2017 also have set an ambitious target of reducing tobacco use by 30% by 2025.
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Achievements:
- Prevalence of tobacco use has decreased by six percentage points from 34.6% in 2009-10 to 28.6% in 2016-17.
- Health Ministry work on tobacco control has also been recognized by WHO through Director General’s Special Recognition Award in 2021.
- Every year, World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions (AFRO, AMRO, EURO, WPRO, EMRO and SEAR) for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
