The World Health Organisation, W.H.O says overall global tobacco use has reduced from 1.397 billion in 2000 to 1.337 billion in 2018, or by approximately sixty million people.
The world body announced this in a statement in Geneva, Switzerland, on ‘Global Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2025’ Third Edition.
The report covers use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, water-pipes, smokeless tobacco products like bidis, cheroots and kretek and heated tobacco products. Electronic cigarettes are, however, not covered in the report.
It noted that the number of males using tobacco globally had declined, showing that government-led control efforts worked to save lives, protect health and beat tobacco.
The statement showed that for the first time, W.H.O project on the number of males using tobacco showed decline, indicating a powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic.”
The statement quoted WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as saying the decline in tobacco use among males marks a turning point in the fight against tobacco.
