About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Public Health Experts Welcome India's Tobacco Control Pledge

by Julia Samuel on February 8, 2016 at 5:30 PM
Font : A-A+

Public Health Experts Welcome India's Tobacco Control Pledge

During the first South Asian Speakers' Summit on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), public health experts have expressed their note on India's commitment to tobacco control.

India has endorsed the 'Dhaka Declaration on SDG Action in South Asia' that has set the agenda for making the region tobacco free by 2030.

Advertisement


"As the country is grappling with shrinking health budgets, India's strategy to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases through controlling tobacco use is a welcome step," said K.R. Thankappan, the head of Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies.

He said the need of the hour was to make "multi-sectoral efforts" to reduce tobacco use which killed one million Indians a year.

Endorsement of Dhaka Declaration has committed India to developing, strengthening and enforcing tobacco-control policies, legislation and regulations in line with the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Advertisement

India has also agreed to work towards decreasing the affordability of all tobacco products by increasing tobacco taxes and endeavor to set aside revenue generated from tobacco taxes to support tobacco control efforts.

The Dhaka Declaration emerged after two days of deliberations by the parliament speakers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka on January 30 and 31, 2016.

C.P.John, member, Kerala State Planning Board said tobacco use in different forms was a major threat to public health and development.

"The state should come forward in controlling tobacco use by strong enforcement and regular monitoring while the responsible citizenry should take the lead in educating the masses through wide public awareness programmes," he added.

Tobacco control has been included as a target under Goal 3 - Health and Well-being - of SDGs 2015-30.

It's notable that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had termed tobacco as an "epidemic" in her address to the speakers' summit.

She had observed that in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka) the estimated total number of tobacco users is 384 million, which accounts for over a third (34.8 percent) of the total tobacco users in the world (about 1.1 billion).



Source: Medindia
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Lifestyle News

Mind-Body Connection: Benefits of Dual-Task Walking Performance!
Walking is a complex activity that can be impacted by multitasking, highlighting the importance of maintaining physical and cognitive health as we age.
Sleep Your Way to Success: Power of Pre-Exam Rest!
Coping with academic stress is key to academic and career success, but what strategies can help students excel during periods of acute stress remains to be answered.
Transitioning Your Hair Care Routine by Mythbusting
Debunk hair myths for healthier hair during the seasonal transition, like avoiding daily washes and using oil for dandruff.
Battle of the Skincare Regime: Salicylic Acid Vs. Glycolic Acid
With an abundance of effective skincare ingredients available, products that restore skin balance are crucial to address many dermatological issues.
 Know About This Summer Friendly Skin Care Routine
To protect our skin from any more breakouts and damage, here is a guide to a skincare routine that will protect the skin throughout this summer.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Public Health Experts Welcome India's Tobacco Control Pledge Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests