Why in Broadcast?

• Anti-Tobacco Day, also known as World No Tobacco Day, is observed as a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Objective

• The objective of Anti-Tobacco Day is to educate the public about the health risks associated with tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco products.
• It highlights the importance of quitting tobacco and encourages governments, organizations, and individuals to take action against tobacco use.

History

• In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for April 7, 1988, to be “a world no-smoking day.”
• In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on May 31.

Theme

• This year the theme of the World No Tobacco Day is ‘We need food, not tobacco’.
• Around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year globally which is creating food insecurity worldwide.

Theme Objectives

• Mobilize governments to end subsidies on tobacco growing and use of savings for crop substitution programmes that support farmers to switch and improve food security and nutrition.
• Raise awareness in tobacco farming communities about the benefits of moving away from tobacco and growing sustainable crops.
• Support efforts to combat desertification and environmental degradation by decreasing tobacco farming.

Health Effects

Cancer:

Tobacco can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body, including the

1. Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)
2. Bladder
3. Cervix
4. Colon and rectum
5. Esophagus
6. Kidney and renal pelvis
7. Larynx
8. Liver
9. Lungs
10. Mouth and throat
11. Pancreas
12. Stomach

Heart Disease and Stroke:

Smoking is a major cause of CVD and causes one of every four deaths from CVD.9 Smoking can:

1. Raise triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood)
2. Lower “good” cholesterol (HDL)
3. Make blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain
4. Damage cells that line the blood vessels
5. Increase the buildup of plaque in blood vessels
6. Cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.
2. COPD includes emphysema; chronic bronchitis; and in some cases, asthma.

Smoking During Pregnancy:

1. Women who smoke have more difficulty becoming pregnant and have a higher risk of never becoming pregnant.
2. Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage in the unborn baby.