Sharp drop in smoking tobacco in India, says WHO report

Sharp drop in smoking tobacco in India, says WHO report

News:

1. According to a WHO report, smoking tobacco in India has dropped down to 11.5% in 2005 from 19.4% in 2000.

Important facts:

2. The percentage is expected to drop down further to 9.8% by 2020 and 8.5% by 2025.
3. Although  the reduction is insufficient to meet globally agreed targets aimed at protecting people from death and suffering from cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
4. Tobacco usage causes cancer, lung diseases, heart diseases and stroke.
5. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey  revealed a serious lack of knowledge of the multiple health risks associated with tobacco.
6. In China, over 60% of the population was unaware that smoking could cause heart attacks.
7. Tobacco usage has decreased more slowly in low and middle income countries than high income countries.
8. Because control policies in such countries is influenced by lobbying from tobacco industries.
9. The report covered tobacco usage only in smoking form, but tobacco is also used in chewing form in India.
10. More than 3/4 tobacco users consume it in chewing form.
11. Thus a policy is required to address the overall usage of tobacco in India.
12. Percentage of all tobacco users in the country reduced from 35% in 2009 to 29% in 2016-17