Health experts have made a joint appeal to all political parties to include tobacco control as a public health measure in their election manifestos.
Addressing a press conference here, Vice Chairman of Tobacco Free Kerala and Director of Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) Paul Sebastian said, "Investing in tobacco control is primarily investing in public health."
"It is an assured way for preventing non-communicable diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure, which are major threats to Kerala's public health," he said.
He further noted that tobacco was responsible for 40 per cent of cancers in Kerala.
Quoting 2011-12 figures of a WHO study he said, "The economic burden on healthcare resources in Kerala from tobacco use was Rs 1514 crore a year, which far outstrips tobacco tax revenue of Rs 315 crore."
Epidemiologist and Former Additional Director of Health Services (Public Health) A S Pradeep Kumar said, "We request all political parties to include strong and strict implementation of Indian tobacco control law COTPA, 2003; protecting non-smokers including women and children from the harms of second-hand smoke along with educating them on harms of tobacco use, in their election manifestos."
Additional Professor, RCC Dr P G Balagopal sought public health measures to prevent tobacco-induced diseases in children and youth besides revision in tobacco tax with the objective of reducing consumption.
The experts also demanded widespread and sustained awareness campaigns on the ill-effects of tobacco use targeting all sections of Kerala's population.
They also pointed out that major political parties in Assamgoing to polls had included tobacco control in their manifestos.
The joint representations to major political parties call for specific measures for tobacco control.
Kerala goes to polls on May 16.
