World
WHO calls for higher taxes on tobacco
Manila: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries across the globe to raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to reduce the number of deaths caused by their addiction and to generate funds for public health systems.
According to WHO’s 2015 report on the global tobacco epidemic, released on Tuesday in Manila, only 33 countries around the world impose taxes, representing more than 75 percent of the price of a packet of cigarettes, Efe news agency reported.
“Raising taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to reduce consumption of products that kill, while also generating substantial revenue,” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said in the report.
The UN agency says many countries have either very low or no special taxes on tobacco and products derived from it.
“I encourage all governments to look at the evidence, not the industry’s arguments, and adopt one of the best win-win policy options available for health,” Chan urged.
Of the six control strategies proposed by WHO, known as “MPOWER,” that of raising taxes is least implemented in terms of population coverage, the report reveals.
Meanwhile, Douglas Bettcher, director of WHO’s Department for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, who presented the annual report, pointed out it had been proved that raising cigarette prices led to reduction in its consumption.
“Evidence from countries such as China and France shows that higher tobacco product prices linked to increased taxes lead to declines in smoking prevalence and tobacco-related harm, such as lung cancer deaths,” he said.
The 2015 tobacco report was released in the Philippines in recognition of the country’s efforts and advances in the fight against tobacco consumption.
Tobacco taxes have gone up by over 300 percent in the Philippines in recent years, the WHO representative added.
Illnesses linked to tobacco consumption are one of the biggest global health threats.
It is estimated one person dies every six seconds due to a tobacco-related illness, which is equivalent to some six million people annually.
The WHO calculates this figure will rise to eight million by the year 2030 unless imminent measures to control tobacco addiction are adopted.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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