Tobacco smoking driving Tuberculosis epidemic, WHO
The World Health Organisation said that, smoking tobacco is driving the tuberculosis epidemic, adding that in 2020, it was responsible for about 730,000 TB episodes.
According to the WHO, individuals who smoke are more at risk of experiencing problems with their lungs, even after successful completion of TB treatment.
The UN health agency disclosed this to commemorate the 2022 World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated annually on May 31.
The theme of this year’s celebration is, Tobacco – Poisoning our Planet. The theme WHO said, aimed to shed light on the negative impacts of tobacco on human health, economies, societies and the environment.
The global health agency, stressed that individuals who smoke, along with people who are exposed to second hand smoke, are at higher risk of developing TB.
“Smoking tobacco slows down TB recovery, it is also linked with poor treatment outcomes, including relapse of TB and death.
“Tobacco usage is a destructive habit, with an estimate of eight million people dying yearly.
“Efforts to curb the number of people who smoke and to support people with TB to quit smoking are therefore crucial to reduce TB related suffering and deaths.”
The World Health Organisation’s end TB Strategy, lays emphasis on action on TB and comorbidities, including tobacco smoking.
The WHO said, “Collaboration between national TB programmes and national tobacco control programmes are critical to scale up WHO recommended TB and tobacco cessation interventions to meet this commitment.
“Integrating smoking cessation interventions within routine, TB management is both feasible and effective in reducing smoking rates and for improving TB treatment outcomes among TB patients.
“A people centered approach, inter programme and multisectoral collaboration, is important to address the detrimental relationship between TB and tobacco, through multipronged strategies, including community health campaigns to reduce the number of people who start smoking and the scale up of efforts to include smoking cessation as part of TB care.
“As we mark World No Tobacco Day, let us consider how best we can unite to accelerate progress to reduce deaths and suffering due to TB and smoking and meet our global commitments to end TB and ensure a tobacco free planet.”
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