Ethiopia tobacco control strategic plan 2010-2012 EC (2017/18-2019/20)

Abstract

Tobacco use is the largest single preventable cause of death, disease and devastating social, economic and environmental effect in the world. Tobacco contains about 50 to 250 harmful constituents which are addictive, carcinogenic, respiratory, cardiovascular, and reproductive toxicants. Tobacco use is estimated to cause about 71% of lung cancer, 42% of chronic respiratory disease and nearly 10% of cardiovascular disease. Currently, it is expected that 1.3 billion people are using tobacco worldwide. Tobacco is also responsible for 7 million premature deaths annually, both from direct tobacco use and second-hand smoking. If the current trend is not curbed, by 2030, this number will increase to 10 million, accounting for 10% of all deaths. Majority of these deaths will occur in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. It is evidenced that for every one death due to tobacco, about 20 tobacco users and secondhand smokers suffer from chronic diseases related to tobacco annually