World No Tobacco Day: 6 steps to curb the tobacco menace by expert

Will these measures help to stop the increasing tobacco menace

Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : May 31, 2015 2:11 PM IST

A cancer specialist at a premier cancer hospital recommended a series of measures to collectively address the menace of growing use of tobacco. In an advisory on World No Tobacco Day, A.K. Dewan, the medical director of the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCI & RC) laid out some important points:

The government should take steps to ensure that the colour of the cigarette butt is made red.

There should be hundred percent pictorial messages warning on cigarette and gutkha packs and strict inspection at gutkha manufacturing units are some of the ways that would lead us towards reduction in tobacco use. Read to know why illicit tobacco trade is still a menace in the country.

Address both the pull and push factors. On the push side, create mechanisms to inspect factories churning out millions of gutkha pouches a day and ensure that they adhere to strictest norms of quality. Alarming -- 8.4 million deaths estimated due to increase in tobacco menace in 2020.

The fact that a pouch is for as low as one rupee means quality is being hugely compromised. The debate on pictorial warnings is misplaced. We should have a 100 percent anti-smoking display and messages on all cigarettes packs. Here are 10 ads that will help you to quit smoking.

In fact, the butts of the cigarettes too should carry a message and should be red in colour to convey continued warning.

We do have a rule on smoking in public places but it is flouted recklessly. We may consider creating a pool of civil wardens who can be authorised to fine those who smoke or chew and spit in public. Why it is easier to quit smoking now, that ever before.

The reason to worry

The recent global burden of cancer 2013 has highlighted that deaths from the disease have gone up by 60 percent while the incidence of new cases of cancer has increased by 30 percent per unit of population. However, we have considerably controlled the mortality due to this disease - but only if it is checked in time.

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All should seek medical intervention at the slightest suspicion. Cancer is best detected early to get treated in time, advised Dewan, who also heads the head and neck surgery department at the hospital.

Image source: Shutterstock.com

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World No Tobacco Day: 6 steps to curb the tobacco menace by expert

Will these measures help to stop the increasing tobacco menace

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