Tobacco, the silent killer

by Indunil THENUWARA

Walk into any nightclub, restaurant or party and you'd come across girls get together, puffing away. Even a non-smoker would find it difficult to drag herself away from this scene as the pressure exerted by the smokers and the desire to be considered cool and hip would overwhelm any willpower to resist that seemingly 'harmless' puff.

This is a scenario that's been increasingly witnessed across the world, including in Sri Lanka, where women and girls are slowly being introduced to the silent killer, tobacco. Tobacco companies are now increasingly targeting their products at women and girls as their traditional clientele either withdraws from the product or dies prematurely from tobacco-related causes.

The increasing problem of women taking to smoking has been found to be so grave that the World Health Organization (WHO) thought it fit to observe this year's World No Tobacco Day, on May 31, on the theme 'Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women'.

Events were organised across the world to draw attention to the problem and to increase awareness about its harmful consequences and solutions.

The main event in Sri Lanka was organised on May 31 by the Health Ministry at the National Blood Transfusion Centre.

The Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association's (SLANA) National Health Run would be organised today as part of its activities connected to World No Tobacco Day as well as to commemorate the UN Declaration against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. According to a SLANA spokesman, the 14th National Health Run would commence from Galle Face Green at 4.00pm and is organised by SLANA with government and non-government institutions. It's conducted under the auspices of the Police Narcotics Bureau with technical support from various sports authorities and is endorsed by Indian celebrity Vivek Oberoi who is in Sri Lanka for the International Indian Film Academy Awards.

Women and tobacco

Out of over one billion smokers in the world, 20 percent or 200 million are women. This trend has been increasing in some countries, especially in developing countries, with tobacco companies aggressively targeting women, promoting ideals of beauty, glamour, freedom and prestige through their products. New tobacco products are entering the market every day with tags such as 'low tar' and 'light', disguised as "healthier or safer" options, deceiving women into believing that they are less harmful to their health.

According to the WHO, a survey conducted across 151 countries show that seven percent of teenage girls and 12 percent of teenage boys regularly smoke. In some countries, more girls than boys are taking to smoking. Of the total world population, 40 percent of men and nine percent of women are believed to smoke.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which came into effect in 2005 and has been ratified by 170 parties including Sri Lanka, has expressed alarm at "the increase in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by women and young girls worldwide".

While it has been found that girls and boys take to smoking for different cultural, psycho-social and socio-economic reasons (most girls smoke due to low self esteem and under the belief that it's a weight control mechanism), it also affects the two genders in different ways. Apart from cancers, heart diseases, stroke, emphysema and other serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases which users are vulnerable to, women also face the risk of harmful effects such as infertility and delays in conceiving. Women who smoke during pregnancy also face the risk of premature delivery, stillbirths and new-born deaths and a reduction in breast milk.

Over five million people die annually from tobacco-related causes of which over 1.5 million are women. Seventy five percent of these deaths are from low and middle income countries. Over 430,000 deaths have also been reported due to second-hand smoking (SHS).

In Sri Lanka, it is said that 400 people die daily from non-epidemic illnesses, mostly from smoking. It's thought that tobacco would kill over eight million annually by 2030 and over one billion people during this century worldwide.

According to Sri Lanka's Health Ministry statistics, although 12 percent of the national revenue is earned from tobacco-relaterd taxes, 22 percent of this revenue is said to be spent on providing medical care for victims of cigarette and alcohol-related illnesses.

Meanwhile, the International Labour Organization has said at least 200,000 workers die annually from being exposed to SHS at work.

Smoking inside the workplace not only affects the health of the workers, but also results in higher medical costs, productivity losses, higher renovation and cleaning costs, increased risk of fire and even higher insurance premiums.

Curb smoking

On a positive note, Sri Lanka happens to be one of the few countries which have taken effective measures against the scourge of smoking.

The decision taken by the Government a few years ago to prohibit smoking at public places has been very effective, not only in discouraging smokers from puffing away at public places, but also towards protecting non-smokers from the harmful effects of passive smoking (SHS).

Implementing 100 per cent smoke-free environment is deemed the only effective measure to protect the public, including women and children, and people at their workplaces, from being exposed to tobacco smoke from other people.

The National Authority on Tobacco Control which was passed by Parliament in 2006 ensures that cigarettes and other tobacco products will not be sold to anyone below the age of 21.

Many countries that have introduced legislation to ban smoking in public places have seen lowered levels of tobacco consumption. Introducing laws isn't enough however, they must be strictly implemented as well.

One of the most effective ways to curb smoking is to ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship of events by tobacco companies.

Another important step is to make people aware of the dangers of active and passive smoking and encourage them to give up. Education plays a large role in this regard. Increased taxes, price hikes, large, clear and graphic messages on packaging have been implemented in various countries.

It is imperative that women and girls are part of any comprehensive tobacco control strategy for such strategy to be fully effective. The full participation of women at all levels, both as policy-makers and implementators, is necessary while boys and men should also be encouraged to veer away from this habit and protect themseleves and their loved ones.

As WHO Director-General Margaret Chan says, "Protecting and promoting the health of women is crucial to health and development - not only for the citizens of today, but also for those of future generations".