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Mangalore: U.T.Khader, Honorable minister for Health and Family welfare on Saturday called upon youngsters in the State to discourage tobacco in order to build a healthy society for the future. 
 
“The goal of a Healthy society is to have less hospital and less illness; habits such as tobacco should be hence discouraged starting at youth. State government is committed to protect the younger generation of the state and to build a healthier Karnataka,” he added.

Khader was speaking at a half-day seminar titled "W.H.O FCTC treaty and its impact on tobacco control in India", organized by the Institute of Public Health as part of a Media Sensitization workshop. 
 
The event held at the Yenepoya University Auditorium, Mangalore focused to highlight the World Health Organization’s first global public health treaty - Framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC) and India’s role in implementation of the same.
 
On this occasion Padma Bhushan Prof.B.M.Hegde, who is also Ex VC of Manipal University, spoke on the issue of - "Importance of tobacco control in public health and preventive medicine" and emphasized on lead roles doctors to take to prevent diseases; Dr.Vishal Rao Surgical Oncologist Head Neck – BGS Global Hospital spoke on the “rising incidence of tobacco related cancers and emphasized that treatment advances haven’t helped tobacco related cancers whose survival remains very poor despite advances”.
 
Nupur Basu, senior journalist and documentary film maker, stressed on the pivotal role media played in the society to build awareness on health issues especially preventable health hazards such as tobacco to create awareness among youth. Cancer victims participated in this program and expressed the pain and suffering they have to go through after losing their voice box and other organ which has left them with a handicap and huge financial debts.
 
Why tobacco control?
 
As per the report released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as recent studies, nearly 9 to 10 lakh people die in India every year due to tobacco consumption i.e. one tobacco related death happening every eight second! Tobacco is one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability, killing more than 1 million people in India annually. As per the Global Adults Tobacco Survey, 2010 and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, about 1.5 crore people (29%) in Karnataka use tobacco who are at the risk of developing cancers and various other health diseases and may have a premature death; and upto 50% of citizens are exposed to second hand smoke. It is estimated that one third of these tobacco consumers will die a premature death due to cancers, heart attacks and lung diseases. India has the highest number of mouth cancers in the world which is tobacco related.  This is because tobacco contains more than 60 cancerous substances and 4000 chemicals, which are severely detrimental to health. 
 
Health sector spends about 30,000 crores each year to treat tobacco related diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and lung related diseases. Most of this expenditure comes out of citizen’s pocket as the health sector in India is private sector. Prevention of these cancers is the only answer to reduce the deaths, since treatments are costly and not very effective for cure.
 
The World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) an international treaty to promote health by control of usage of tobacco that claims crores of lives in India each year. India was one of the first countries to ratify this treaty and was unanimously elected as the coordinator of the group of countries affiliated to the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). The primary goal of this public health treaty implemented through the W.H.O tobacco free initiative partners is to reduce the tobacco consumption in the countries that is leading to large number of preventable deaths and diseases.

Banning tobacco will push areca farmers on streets : Sunil Kumar

Karkala : “Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to protest against the proposal sent by the Union Health Department to the Supreme Court to issue order for the ban of tobacco,” warned V.Sunil Kumar, MLA and vice-president, State BJP.
 
“The Central Government had previously sent a appeal to the Apex Court for the ban of Gutka now it is mulling to ban Tobacco. If the ban becomes effective then it will prove to be a death blow to areca farmers. Karnataka has largest number of areca farmers in the country. Lacs of farmers have grown arecanuts trees in land measuring 2.50 lac hectares. Arecanut business is worth Rs.20, 000 crore. If this proposal is accepted then areca farmers will come on streets. The Government which talks about agricultural development is gearing up to implement anti farmer policies. In forthcoming days it will be known that Central Government has come forward for banning tobacco has it being pressurized by powerful lobbyists.”Sunil Kumar alleged.
 
“The State Government seems to be in deep slumber even after ten days has passed after the appeal was submitted to the Supreme Court. The State Government should spring to action immediately. It has to take all party delegate to New Delhi and hold discussion with the Central Government to highlight about the adverse effect the ban is likely to wield on farmers here. The four Ministers who belong to undivided Dakshina Kannada District should take steps to protect the interests of the farmers. Before the people take to arms the Central Government should revoke its appeal.”Sunil Kumar demanded.
 
Suresh Madivala, Mahaveer Hegde, general secretary, Taluk BJP and Giridhar Nayak, president, City BJP were present among others.