End Tobacco and End TB are an absolute imperative (and enabler) if we are to deliver on SDGs
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We cannot turn a blinds eye to preventable epidemics if we are to deliver on SDGs
SHOBHA SHUKLA, BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS
The epidemic-proportion diseases and untimely deaths caused by tobacco use are entirely preventable. Likewise, we have science-based tools and approaches to find all TB cases, treat all of them and prevent transmission of the disease. When even one TB or tobacco death is a death too many, how can one explain 1.25 million TB deaths and over 8 million tobacco-related deaths in 2023 alone? How can TB disease, that is entirely preventable (and curable), become the deadliest infectious disease worldwide?
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2025 as well as the World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025, Dr Tara Singh Bam, a noted and dedicated leader who has championed both #endTB and #endTobacco agenda - along with connecting more dots, like prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and invoking stronger local actions at sub-national levels to advance progress towards these goals- shared valuable insights on "TB and tobacco: A preventable tragedy, a shared responsibility".
Dr Bam called for building result-oriented political leadership that translates into effective TB and tobacco control legislation; accountability and sustainability of TB control and tobacco control programmes; and inclusion of smoking cessation through regular TB services at healthcare facilities. Dr Bam serves as Asia Pacific Director for Tobacco Control at Vital Strategies and earlier led the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) Asia Pacific as its Director. He also serves as a Board Director of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT).
TB and tobacco both deadly by themselves and together become deadlier
TB if left untreated can be deadly. And as per the World Health Organization (WHO), one out of every two tobacco user dies of tobacco-related diseases prematurely. There is ZERO safe level of tobacco use, so tobacco use in all forms is deadly and dangerous for health as well as for the economy.
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