The rampant use of tobacco in the country has the Prime Minister concerned. Amid fears that tobacco consumption could claim a billion lives around the world this century, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it needs to be stopped with a “firm resolve” while ensuring that those engaged in the sector move to alternative livelihoods. According to the WHO, approximately 250 million adults consume smokeless tobacco in the 11 countries of the Southeast Asia region, which constitutes 90 per cent of global smokeless tobacco users.
“This figure is in addition to the 250 million smokers in the region. Given the high number of users and the serious health consequences of tobacco use, countries in the region have set a target for a 30 per cent reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use in persons over 15 years of age”.
Even the WHO expressed concern on the rampant use of smokeless tobacco in the country saying that lack of public awareness and incomplete knowledge about the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco are proving to be obstacles in creating effective tobacco control policies.
In a recorded video message at “The International Conference on Public Health Priorities in the 21st Century: The Endgame for Tobacco”, Dr Singh said, “Tobacco use claimed about 100 million lives in the 20th century and is likely to claim a billion lives this century unless it is stopped with a firm resolve.”