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Sharp drop in smoking tobacco in India, says WHO report
News:
- According to a WHO report, smoking tobacco in India has dropped down to 11.5% in 2005 from 19.4% in 2000.
Important facts:
- The percentage is expected to drop down further to 9.8% by 2020 and 8.5% by 2025.
- 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).
- Tobacco usage causes cancer, lung diseases, heart diseases and stroke.
- The Global Adult Tobacco Survey revealed a serious lack of knowledge of the multiple health risks associated with tobacco.
- In China, over 60% of the population was unaware that smoking could cause heart attacks.
- Tobacco usage has decreased more slowly in low and middle income countries than high income countries.
- Because control policies in such countries is influenced by lobbying from tobacco industries.
- The report covered tobacco usage only in smoking form, but tobacco is also used in chewing form in India.
- More than 3/4 tobacco users consume it in chewing form.
- Thus a policy is required to address the overall usage of tobacco in India.
- Percentage of all tobacco users in the country reduced from 35% in 2009 to 29% in 2016-17
