Tobacco consumption can be fatal to health. Smoking can hurt mental health as well as physical health. Despite knowing the negative effects of smoking and tobacco, a large number of people around the world consume tobacco in some form or the other. Consumption of bidi, cigarette, and gutkha, etc. increases the risk of many diseases.

Smoking weakens the arteries and can cause coronary heart disease and stroke. In some studies, smoking has also been cited as a possible factor for the increased heart attacks globally in the last few years. Apart from this, tobacco use can also cause cancer or lung disease.

In such a situation, World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year across the world to make people aware of the harm caused by it to prevent people from consuming tobacco. When and why the need to celebrate No Tobacco Day was felt, others can also be made aware by knowing about the importance of this day etc. In the next slides, know the history, importance, and theme of World No Tobacco Day for the year 2024.

When did the celebration of World No Tobacco Day start
The World Health Organization decided to celebrate No Tobacco Day in the year 1987. The reason for this was the continuous increase in the number of deaths due to tobacco consumption during that period. The following year i.e. in 1988, World No Tobacco Day was celebrated for the first time in April. However, later World No Tobacco Day started being celebrated in May.

When is Tobacco No Tobacco Day celebrated?
Later this day started being celebrated on 31st May every year. In 1988, a proposal to celebrate World No Tobacco Day was passed on the last day of May. After this, World No Tobacco Day started being celebrated to prevent tobacco consumption and to make people aware of the problems caused by it.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024
Every year a special theme is decided for World No Tobacco Day. The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2023 was 'We Need Food-Not Tobacco', which aims to make tobacco farmers aware of alternative crop production. This year the theme of No Tobacco Day 2024 is Protecting Children From Tobacco Industry Interference.

(PC: Freepik)