World No Tobacco Day 2023:We need food, not tobacco

May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day, a day devoted to bringing attention to the detrimental impact that tobacco smoking has on our health and wellbeing.

The emphasis of this year’s theme, “We Need Food, Not Tobacco,” is on the vital importance of nutrition in our lives and the negative effects that tobacco use can have on our capacity to live healthy, full lives.

Let’s take a minute to think on this issue and pledge to encourage healthy lifestyle choices that put nutrition and wellbeing first. Consider the millions of lives that have been lost or negatively impacted by cigarette smoking.

Tobacco

The most common preventable cause of death in the world is tobacco usage. It contributes to a number of deadly ailments, such as lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, and respiratory conditions.

More than 6,700 Ghanaians die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, 66% of whom are people under the age of 70, according to the Tobacco Atlas. Also, exposure to secondhand smoke claims the lives of roughly 18% of Ghanaians.

Tobacco over food

Despite this, the tobacco business is nevertheless successful and actively markets its goods. In the meantime, millions of people daily experience hunger throughout the world.

Why do we prioritize the manufacturing and selling of tobacco when people need to eat?

We should prioritize food over smoke for a number of reasons. Food is primarily a necessity for humans. It is necessary for existence, development, and growth.

People are more prone to become ill, be less productive, and have cognitive impairment if they don’t get enough nutrients. Contrarily, tobacco has no nutritional value and solely has a negative impact on the users.

In order to grow the plant, the business uses significant amounts of land, water, and other resources, which depletes these resources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that cultivation uses a significant quantity of water, fertilizer, and pesticides that could be better used to plant food crops that would nourish people rather than harm them.

Users

Third, the tobacco industry has a significant role in the world’s inequalities. The majority of smokers reside in low- and middle-income nations, where access to basic nutrition and healthcare is frequently lacking.

While doing so, the industry takes advantage of these nations’ resources and labor to make money.

The Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations If land that is currently utilized to grow them was instead used for food production, goal two of ending hunger could be more successfully attained. We may move toward greater equity and social justice by placing food over smoke.

Putting food first

It entails understanding that smoking has detrimental long-term effects on our health and that our bodies require a healthy diet to perform at their best.

Last but not least, it is morally correct to put food before smoke. Making healthy food selections and emphasizing nutrient intake over harmful cigarette usage are both examples of prioritizing food over tobacco.

It entails understanding that smoking has detrimental long-term effects on our health and that our bodies require a healthy diet to perform at their best.

Making decisions that enhance our physical and emotional health while placing food above smoke implies placing our health and wellbeing first.

Nobody should be forced to decide between buying food for themselves and their families and putting their health at risk by smoking. We may endeavor to create a society that is more fair and just if we acknowledge the significance of food as a fundamental human need.

Stepping up legislation

The 2023 WNTD campaign urges governments and decision-makers to strengthen legislation, create appropriate policies and strategies, and provide the market circumstances necessary for farmers to switch to cultivating food crops that would improve their families’ quality of life. The global campaign, run in conjunction with partners, will raise farmers’ awareness of marketing and alternative crop production opportunities and encourage them to grow nutrient-dense, sustainable crops.

Impact of tobacco

Let’s pause to consider the message of this year’s World No Tobacco Day: “We need food, not tobacco.”

It serves as a sobering reminder of the damaging effects that cigarette smoking may have on our health and wellbeing, highlighting the crucial significance of giving access to wholesome food top priority.

Let’s pause to consider the message of this year’s World No Tobacco Day: “We need food, not tobacco.”

It serves as a sobering reminder of the damaging effects that cigarette smoking may have on our health and wellbeing, highlighting the crucial significance of giving access to wholesome food top priority.

Let’s continue to work for laws and programs that prioritize access to wholesome food and promote public knowledge of the risks associated with cigarette use. For ourselves and future generations, we can build a healthier, happier planet by working together.

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