The number of deaths from non-communicable diseases in Myanmar has increased significantly. Most of the cases are linked to betel chewing and the consumption of tobacco-related products, according to a ceremony to introduce the public awareness campaign against betel chewing and the consumption of tobacco-related products via media, at Public Health Foundation in Yangon on October 8.

More than seven million people die from tobacco consumption around the globe every year—more than six million people die of direct tobacco consumption and about one million die of passive tobacco consumption. More than half of smokers die of long term chain smoking.

According to the figures in 2014 in Myanmar, 43.8 per cent of male aged 15 and above and 8.4 per cent of female consume tobacco. The 62.2 per cent of male and 24.1 per cent of female chew betel. According to the figures in 2016, 21 per cent of male aged 13 and 15 and two per cent of female are smokers. The 11 per cent of male and two per cent of female chew betel.

There are an estimated 246 million population who smoke cigarette and 290 million people chew betel, in the South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

By 2030, up to 8.3 million people will die if the countries are unable to control the widespread use of tobacco. More than 80 per cent of death rates will be from low-income countries or middle-income countries.

The Myanmar government has been conducting educative program after the enactment of the Control of Smoking and Consumption of Tobacco Product Law in 2006. But tobacco consumption rate doesn’t decline as expected. Tobacco consumption rate become high among youths.