World No Tobacco Day is marked on May 31 to spread awareness about the adverse effects of consuming tobacco. It also encourages people to quit tobacco and lead healthier lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco claims the lives of as much as half of its users and kills over eight million people every year. In addition, it is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. This yearly celebration is a global movement that brings together individuals, organizations, and communities to work towards a smoke-free world.
The theme for WNTD 2023 is “We need food, not tobacco.” This campaign encourages governments to step up legislation and develop suitable policies promoting agriculture as an alternative to tobacco growing. It will also encourage the development of food crops that can provide a sustainable income for tobacco farmers while safeguarding human health and the environment.
Besides this, the campaign will also expose the efforts of the tobacco industry to obstruct attempts at substituting tobacco growing with other agricultural products. It will also urge governments to end tobacco-growing subsidies and use these savings to support tobacco farmers in converting to growing healthy and nutritious food crops that could improve the global food crisis.
The World No Tobacco Day campaign was first initiated in 1987 to highlight the ill effects of tobacco usage and advance efforts in promoting effective tobacco control measures. Since then, the campaign has grown significantly and become a global platform for public health initiatives to combat tobacco use. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control formally recognized the campaign in 1988, and it is celebrated globally on May 31.
Tobacco consumption is estimated to be responsible for over 80% of all lung cancer deaths worldwide. It is also the leading cause of COPD, which leads to heart disease, respiratory diseases, and strokes. Despite the many benefits of quitting smoking, it is not easy for all smokers to break the habit. Those considering quitting tobacco should seek help and resources to aid them.
Smoking can also damage the environment and harm our ecosystem. Tobacco production is associated with deforestation, pollution, and massive use of pesticides and fertilizers. It can also reduce soil quality and make the land unsuitable for other farming. Moreover, tobacco cultivation requires massive amounts of water. This can affect the availability of clean drinking water in areas where it is most needed.
This is why protecting the environment and people’s health and well-being is essential. The WHO has developed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to guide countries in developing and implementing effective tobacco control measures. The convention is a vital tool in fighting tobacco by bringing together individuals, groups, and governments. It is an essential milestone in the fight for the right to a healthy lifestyle and the protection of future generations. Besides this, the Framework Convention provides guidelines for tobacco-related advertising, packaging, and labeling to ensure that the tobacco industry does not use them as a marketing tool.
