World No Tobacco Day 2021: Know History, Theme & Significance Of The Day In Covid Era

This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme is ‘Commit to Quit’, and WHO has launched a year-long campaign to support at least 100 million people who are trying to give up tobacco through communities of quitters. 

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New Delhi: Globally, No Tobacco Day or Anti-Tobacco Day is observed on May 31, and dedicated to raise awareness about the adverse effects of smoking. Smoking can lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory disorders, etc. Moreover, the presence of nicotine in tobacco causes addiction and leads to a craving for tobacco when the individual is in extreme moods, thereby making it difficult to quit. Having said that there are always ways and means to quit smoking to lead a healthier life.

 History of World Tobacco Day

The Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. Also Read: What Is Saline Gargle RT-PCR Test? Know How To Use Self-Test Covid Kit Approved By ICMR

In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution HA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

What's the theme of World No Tobacco Day 2021?

The WHO has highlighted that nearly 60 per cent of tobacco users around the world wanting to quit smoking but only 30 per cent of the global population have access to quality tobacco cessation services. Hence, this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme is focused on ‘Commit to Quit’. WHO has launched a year-long campaign to support at least 100 million people who are trying to give up tobacco through communities of quitters.  “Commit to Quit”  is aimed at creating healthier environments that is aimed at quitting tobacco by advocating for strong tobacco cessation policies; increasing access to cessation services; raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics, and empowering tobacco users to make successful quit attempts through “quit & win” initiatives. 

If you go by the Global Burden of Disease study, India had the second-highest number of tobacco consumers till 2019 ranging from 15-24 age group at nearly 2 crores. In fact, the country witnessed the maximum increase of young male smokers in this age group since 1990. While the number of smokers rose to 1.1 billion in 2019 worldwide, with smoking leading to 7.7 million deaths.

However, with the outbreak of coronavirus people have become more conscious about their lifestyle and opting to give up habits that are harmful to their bodies. Moreover, the awareness is more significant especially as the viral disease is known to severely affect the lungs.

"Smokers have up to a 50 per cent higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19, so quitting is the best thing smokers can do to lower their risk from this coronavirus, as well as the risk of developing cancers, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.