Why is tobacco control a public health priority and necessity?
Currently, 1.3 billion persons use tobacco in the world. Tobacco continues to be the second major cause of death in the world. Half of today’s tobacco users will eventually be killed by tobacco, and most of them will be in developing countries. Currently 4.9 million people die every year globally from tobacco use; out of the number 1.1 million people die from SEA Region. By 2030, if present smoking trends continue, this number will rise to 10 million deaths per year globally. While epidemiological research continues to connect tobacco use to numerous serious health problems, economic research also shows that tobacco con exacerbate poverty among users, grows, workers and nations. In order to counter the ill effects of tobacco use, especially among the poor and in low-income countries, development agencies should use policy dialogue coupled with technical and financial cooperation to support policy change.
