The Southeast Asia region, which includes India, has about 411 million adult tobacco users -- the highest globally, said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director on Thursday on the eve of World No Tobacco Day.
Observed every year on May 31, World No Tobacco
Day was designated in 1987, by Member States of the World Health Organization
(WHO) to draw attention to the global tobacco epidemic, and the preventable
death and disease it causes.
"The fight against tobacco is particularly
important for us in South-East Asia. The tobacco industry's targeting of youth
is rampant across our Member States. As a result, we have a very worrying 11
million adolescents using various tobacco products," Saima Wazed said in a
statement.
"Coupled with the approximate 411 million
adult tobacco users, our region, unfortunately, has the highest number of
adolescent and adult users globally," she added.
The theme this year is "protecting children
from tobacco industry interference".
Saima Wazed lamented that it is
"worrying" that the "industry lures youth by aggressively
introducing new nicotine and tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and
heated tobacco products".
"Young people across the world are calling
for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful
to their health."
She said that governments must adopt policies to
protect them from the manipulative practices of tobacco and related industries,
which includes the relentless marketing of their dangerous products through
social media and streaming platforms.
Despite having policies and regulations in
place, these are becoming increasingly popular with the youth in the SE Asia
region, and "social media and other similar platforms are likely to make
this worse".
"The tobacco industry moves with speed to
launch new products, using every means to expand market share before
regulations can catch up," the WHO Regional Director said.
"They continue to oppose evidence-based
measures, such as increases in excise taxes, and comprehensive bans on tobacco
advertising, promotions, and sponsorships. They even threaten legal action
against governments that try to protect the health of their citizens."
She pointed out the "lagging" efforts
by governments and institutions to fight the marketing strategies of the
tobacco industry.
The WHO chief called for a generational tobacco
ban, leading to a 'Tobacco-Free Generation'.
"Our goal for our youth is clear. We want
to prevent and reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction, and exposure to
new tobacco products."
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