Passive Smoking - A Neglected Health Threat

6 lakh out of 60 lakh tobacco-related deaths every year are due to passive smoking

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai, 9^th March 2016:  On the occasion of ‘No Smoking Day’- 9^th March 2016, Association of Hospital wants to create awareness about passive smoking or second hand smoking. One of the oldest healthcare associations in Mumbai, AOH highlights the increasing death rate caused by inhaling of harmful air. Passive smoking is harmful to health and even though the populace is aware about the hazardous effects of smoking, there is a dire need for awareness about passive smoking.

An estimated 10% of tobacco-related deaths are caused by passive smoking. It causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer in adults. In infants passive smoking can lead to sudden death while in pregnant women it causes low birth weight. Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent.  According to WHO data, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.

Dr. PM Bhujang, President, Association of Hospital said, “India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers. Since 2009, approximately 900,000 people die every year in India due to smoking.As of 2015, the number of men smoking tobacco globally rose to 108 million, an increase of 36% between 1998 and 2015. With the number of active smokers increasing day by day, the threat of passive smoking is also rapidly increasing. Indians need to wake up to the risk of cardiovascular diseases which have a devastating impact on the health, growth and development of the country.”

Further commenting Dr. PM Bhujang said, “Other than passive smoking, increasing smoke in air is also affecting the health of the people drastically. To control this inhalation of polluted air, one should avoid smoking zones; try to avoid breathing near factories producing harmful gases. A person should be aware about the environment where he breaths the air and should take appropriate measure to control the same.”

About Association of Hospital

The Association of Hospitals has been formed under the Memorandum dated August 6, 1985 and is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Association is also registered under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 as Public Charitable Trust with the office of Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State.

Presently there are 52 members of the Association and all of them are Public Charitable Trust Hospitals registered under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 with the concerned offices of Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State depending upon the Jurisdiction. The members being not-for-profit charitable hospitals render yeomen service to the public and bear a major share of all the public burden of rendering healthcare to the people.