No Tobacco Day- Just another day

By Samiya Anwar

‘Tobacco is a dirty weed, taking lives of millions every year’ “Man I wish I smoke. It is something awesome”, said my friend, Neha when we were in High School .According to her it is chic to smoke at that time. . I hated the girl from that day and wished never to talk again. But recently when she came face-to-face in the market, she said, ‘I wish I never started’. And most of the people, whom I know, want to quit smoking because it is really bad and are having trouble, but cannot do. Once you start, you may not be able to stop.

‘No smoking’, ‘It is against the law to smoke in these premises’, ‘Thank you for observing our No Smoking policy’, etc are some of the sayings mentioned in all workplaces, public places, hotels and restaurants, offices, courts, banks, schools, colleges, libraries, cinemas, auditorium, restaurants, shopping malls, parks, monuments, railway stations, airports, bus stops, buses, taxis, etc. but who follows the rules, very few or say none.
The world has been deceived into believing the lie that smoking is socially acceptable. It is regarded as something ‘cool’ and ‘fashionable. To smoke is to be stylish according to many youngsters, sadly. It is a glamorous activity which brings popularity. Besides it smells horrible, it's dirty, it makes hair and clothes reek, it makes teeth yellow and voice scratchy. A person who smoke or chew tobacco is smelly. They stink. They spit everywhere. They’re annoying, and they look just STUPID.

Moreover TOBACCO, a deadly killer takes the lives of 0.1m every year. It is the leading preventable cause of death. More than five million people die from the effects of tobacco each year more than from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Unfortunately, tobacco companies spend tens of millions of dollars every year turning new users into addicts. They do anything to keep up the current users from quitting.

The world's biggest tobacco users are India and China, according to new research which highlights concerns about increasing death rates in developing countries .Studies also depict that poor men more likely than wealthy, and people of developing countries than those of developed countries, prefer to smoke. It is no odd that women smokers are on rise more than ever in last few years.

At least half of the world seems to enjoy the pleasures of tobacco thinking it as cool or addicted. The other half seems to be really up against it. They find it silly deed and senseless act. From anti smoking laws to slogans, from zero cigarette campaigns to awareness programmes the people are fighting against fumes. A serious step is taken to stop tobacco use by WHO.

Since May 1999, WHO has been co-coordinating an international political process inspired by the idea that every tobacco related death is preventable. World No Tobacco day is recognized and organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) every year, usually in May. This year, May 31, 2009 is observed as World No Tobacco Day. The theme is "Tobacco Health Warnings." It challenges youth to quit smoking. But the question is will this day be the start of a new tobacco free life, hopefully.

Though Tobacco Health Warnings appear on packs of cigarettes and are among the strongest defenses against the global epidemic of tobacco. It remains too difficult to make healthy choices because no one starts smoking a pack a day right from the beginning, they always start with one here and there until eventually they are classifying themselves as actual smokers. At least one in five adults and kids use tobacco, two-thirds of adults are overweight and obese, and too few people get enough physical activity. It is troubling that adult smoking rates have not gone down in recent decades.

Smoking is hazardous to the health of both the smoker and the bystanders. Inhaling air exposed to `bidi' or cigarette smoke is more risky to health than contracting a disease from garbage. Up to half of all smokers will die from a tobacco-related disease. Second-hand smoke harms everyone who is exposed to it. According to a recent report, Cigarette smoking will take away the life of 10 lakh people in India by 2010.

On May 30 at the Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Karnataka “World No Tobacco Day” will be celebrated. As part of the programme, students of Hombe Gowda Boys’ High School will take out a procession from the school premises in Wilson Garden to Kidwai Institute on Hosur Road. Magician S.P. Nagendra Prasad will present a special magic show with a message on ill effects of tobacco consumption.

In Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia on Friday said that tobacco health warnings will be strictly implemented in the state. “Packaging industries will also be warned to follow the guidelines of the government by May 31. We are committed to make Delhi a smoke-free by the end of 2009,” said Walia, while releasing a short film “Tobacco: Threat to Life & Development” on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, observed at the India Habitat Centre here.

Earlier also the government of India tried to control tobacco use through Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution Bill, 2003, and Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008 by banning it sophisticatedly. But the fine of Rs. 200 didn’t stop the smokers to quit.

It is one of the social evil, never ending and increasing despite of knowing it health hazardous. Like dowry, alcoholism, use of tobacco in the country cannot be vanished completely unless the cigarettes are made, gutkas are in sale and bidis found in market, the tobacco users will not take initiative to quit the addiction.

The campaign for 'No Tobacco Day' in India, this year has to be more rigorous and the laws should be stricter like never before. But the day will come and go, just like another day, unhappily. And the ban on smoking will not see the light if the government doesn’t stop the production of tobacco and tobacco products in order to make the country tobacco-free.