Kathmandu. The World Day Against Tobacco is being observed across the globe today. The purpose of this World Health Day is to raise awareness about the health risks of tobacco use, business strategies of the tobacco industry, the efforts made by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control tobacco and the necessary steps for the protection of future generations.
The World Health Organization Day was established in 1987 by WHO member states to raise awareness of the global tobacco epidemic and its preventable death and disease. In 1987, the World Health Assembly (WHO) adopted resolution WHA 40.38 proclaimed April 7 as World No Smoking Day. The World No Tobacco Day is celebrated on May 31 every year as per the resolution WHA 42.19 passed in 1988.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 881.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco. Most of them live in low- and middle-income countries. Although the use of tobacco products has been decreasing in recent years, one in five adults in the world is still involved in some form of tobacco use. More than 8 million people die every year due to tobacco products, of which about 12 lakh die due to passive smoking.
On this year’s Day, the WHO has urged governments to protect the new generation from addiction to tobacco and nicotine-containing products. Worldwide, at least 884 million children between the ages of 13 and 15 are using tobacco, and the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is on the rise, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO says tobacco and nicotine companies are developing their products in a way that makes them more attractive, easier to use and harder to quit. The organization says they have addicted teens and young people, especially through flavored e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other nicotine products.
Director of the WHO’s Health Determinant, Promotion and Prevention Division, Dr. Tobacco products are killing millions of people every year, but big companies are changing their business strategy to try to get a new generation addicted to nicotine, according to Dr. Etienne Krug. According to him, the aggressive market expansion of flavored e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other nicotine products is targeting the younger generation.
Nicotine is highly addictive and harmful to health, and its effects can be particularly severe for children, adolescents and young people in the development stage, the WHO said. It is estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide use e-cigarettes, and their popularity among teens is growing rapidly.
A recent report on nicotine pouches released by the World Health Organization (WHO) says that it is being widely promoted through social media influencers. According to the report, the strategy has been adopted to attract youths through advertisement campaigns related to attractive packaging, sweets and lifestyle.
According to the report, about 160 countries do not have clear laws and regulations regarding nicotine pouches. While its sales are growing rapidly worldwide, millions of people are at risk due to lack of adequate regulation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to ban flavored nicotine products, stop advertising, promotion and sponsorship, declare public indoor spaces fully smoke- and vape-free zones, and increase law enforcement. KATHMANDU: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of serious impact on the health of future generations if the increasing use of tobacco and nicotine products is not controlled.
Photo: WHO
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