World No Tobacco Day(WNTD) is annually observed across the globe on 31st May to create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and encourage the general public to quit smoking.
- The annual observance of World No Tobacco Day is led by the World Health Organisation(WHO).
The theme of WNTD 2023 observed on 31st May 2023 is “We need food, not tobacco”.
WHO’s theme – “Grow Food, not Tobacco”.
Background:
i.WHO established World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to highlight the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
ii.The World Health Assembly(WHA) adopted the resolution WHA40.38 in 1987 and proclaimed the 7th of April of every year as World No Smoking Day.
iii.In 1988, WHA passed a resolution WHA42.19 and called for the celebration of 31st May of every year as World No Tobacco Day.
Significance:
i.The WNTD 2023 campaign aims to create awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourage them to grow sustainable, nutritious crops.
ii.The 2023 observance also aims to expose the efforts of the tobacco industry to interfere with attempts to substitute tobacco growing with sustainable crops and contribute to the global food crisis.
Objectives of WNTD 2023 :
- To mobilize governments to end subsidies on tobacco growing and use of savings for crop substitution programmes that support farmers to switch and improve food security and nutrition.
- To support the efforts to combat desertification and environmental degradation by decreasing tobacco farming
Key Points:
i.Globally, around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year. Growing tobacco also contributes to the deforestation of 200000 hectares a year.
ii.Land used for growing tobacco then has a lower capacity for growing other crops, such as food, since tobacco depletes soil fertility.
WNTD 2023 awards:
WHO announced the winners of World No Tobacco Day 2023 awards and WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Certificate.
- The State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC), Government of Meghalaya and the Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development Research in Dharwad, Karnataka received the award under the “South-East Asia Region” category.
About UNTD Award:
Annually the WHO recognises individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions(Africa, America, East Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia & Western Pacific) for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
- This is presented in the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Awards.
Click here for the complete list of winners
About World Health Organisation(WHO):
Director-General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
