May 30, 2024

World No Tobacco Day 2024

World No Tobacco Day is an annual event observed on May 31st to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective strategies to help individuals quit smoking. Smoking remains a global public health challenge, causing millions of deaths each year and placing an enormous burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024 is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference” to protect future generations and ensure that tobacco use continues to decline. This year, attention is directed towards the alarming trend of the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing towards youth.

Tobacco is the biggest enemy of public health today and one of the primary causes of cancer and heart ailments. Tobacco consumption is not just about smoking but also about the smokeless forms available as gutkha and pan masala. It is important to understand that tobacco consumption in any form and any quantity is extremely harmful to our health and our planet. Tobacco consumption can lead to life-threatening consequences for smokers as well as those exposed to second-hand smoke.

It can negatively affect lungs, heart, throat, and neck, causing various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Moreover, smoking can also adversely impact one’s reproductive function. In women, both active and passive smoking can have detrimental effects on reproductive organs and their function. This can result in various conditions related to ovaries, affecting their fertility, as well as the progress and outcome of pregnancies.

This World No Tobacco Day let’s take an oath to understand the impact of smoking on one’s health and quality of life.