Who's benefited - Let's ponder on this World Health Day

Today is the World Health Day - it is celebrated every year to commemorate the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7 April 1948. 

The theme of World Health Day 2012 is "Good health adds life to years". Based on the topic Ageing and Health, the focus this year is how good health throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities.

Lifestyle choices play a key role in determining health; lifestyle factors are stressed and discussed about as individuals have a control over it. 

Use of tobacco and other tobacco products is a major lifestyle factor that charts the course of one's life and health. Individuals can make a choice here if they want their health to be good or bad. 

Scientific studies and surveys all over the world have reiterated the strong correlation between use of tobacco products and health. In India alone, more than 10 lakh people die annually due to tobacco related diseases. 

An Expert Committee Report of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2001 made a telling analysis of cost-benefit analysis of tobacco use in India. A case analysis showed that in the year 1999, the Indian Government raised funds to the tune of 24 thousand crores from tobacco and related products but ended up expending 27 thousand crores on diseases caused due to tobacco use. 

We'll let the scale speak for itself.

Image courtesy: Tobacco Control in Contemporary India