World No Tobacco Day

May 31

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Every year on 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), raising public awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco use and calling for effective policies to reduce tobacco use.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2017 is “Tobacco – a threat to development”.

Tobacco control promotes health and development.

WHO urges countries to prioritize efforts to reduce tobacco consumption. The success of this work benefits all countries primarily by protecting citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco use and reducing economic losses to national economies.

One of the global sustainable development goals is to reduce by a third by 2030 premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tobacco control is one of the most effective measures to achieve this goal. In this regard, in countries that have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), special attention is paid to its implementation.

Tobacco control contributes to other global goals.

In addition to saving lives and improving health, comprehensive interventions to reduce tobacco product use and limit nonsmokers' exposure to tobacco smoke reduce the adverse consequences of tobacco production, trade and consumption.

Tobacco control can promote economic growth and also combat climate change. Increasing tobacco taxation may also benefit government development programs.

It's not just governments that can step up tobacco control efforts: people can make their own contributions to creating a sustainable, tobacco-free world. People can make a commitment to never use tobacco products. Those who already use tobacco can quit or seek help, which will also keep them healthy and protect people exposed to secondhand smoke. Money not spent on tobacco can, in turn, be used for important purposes, including healthcare, education, purchasing healthy food products, etc.

Facts about tobacco.

About 6 million people die each year as a result of tobacco use, and unless efforts are stepped up, this figure is projected to exceed 8 million per year by 2030. Tobacco use poses a threat to everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, culture or education. It causes suffering, illness and death, devastating families and national economies.

  • Tobacco use has a huge cost to the national economy, in terms of increased health care costs and decreased productivity. About 80% of premature deaths due to tobacco use occur in low- and middle-income countries.
  • The tobacco industry produces over 2 million tons of solid waste.
  • The WHO FCTC defines a set of measures aimed at combating tobacco consumption worldwide. The WHO FCTC is an international treaty with 180 Parties (179 countries and the European Union). Today, more than half the world's countries, representing almost 40% of the world's population (2.8 billion people), have implemented at least one of the most effective WHO FCTC measures at the highest level.
  • A $1 increase in cigarette taxes worldwide would generate an additional $190 billion for development. High tax rates on tobacco products increase government revenue, reduce demand for tobacco, and are an important source of revenue to finance development activities.

World No Tobacco Day 2017 aims to:

  • Emphasize the links between tobacco use, tobacco control and sustainable development.
  • Support governments and civil society to combat tobacco industry interference in political processes, which in turn will encourage stronger national tobacco control efforts.
  • Encourage greater public participation in national, regional and global efforts to develop and implement tobacco control strategies and plans.
  • Show how individuals can contribute to creating a sustainable tobacco-free world by making a commitment to never use tobacco products or to quit the habit.

A number of activities are being carried out in our country, covering various aspects of anti-tobacco activities, carried out in the development of the WHO FCTC and as part of the implementation of the state program “People's Health and Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus” for 2016-2020.

Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke.

Smoking (consumption) of tobacco products is prohibited in the country, with the exception of places specially designed for this purpose: in healthcare, cultural, educational, sports institutions, at retail and consumer services facilities; at a number of public catering facilities; in the premises of government bodies, local executive and administrative bodies, organizations; at all types of train stations, airports, underground passages, and metro stations; in all types of public transport, etc. (Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated December 17, 2002 No. 28 “On state regulation of the production, circulation and consumption of raw tobacco and tobacco products”). Currently, work is underway on the draft Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On state regulation of the production, circulation and consumption of tobacco raw materials and tobacco products, circulation and use of electronic smoking systems, liquids for electronic smoking systems” (draft Decree). The draft Decree defines further tightening of the requirements for the sale and restriction of smoking of tobacco products: it is proposed to divide places in which smoking is prohibited into two categories - places in which smoking is completely prohibited, and places in which smoking is prohibited, with the exception of places specifically intended for this goal; prohibit smoking in cars and premises if children under 14 years of age are present. Restrictions are also being introduced regarding advertising, sale and use of electronic smoking systems.

Work is underway to create smoking-free areas (parks, public gardens, recreation areas, hotels, cafes, restaurants, public transport stops and others).

Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.

At the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, in order to implement the WHO FCTC in the country, prices for tobacco products are regularly increased.

Regulation of packaging and labeling of tobacco products; regulation of the composition of tobacco products.

Requirements for packaging and labeling of tobacco products have been determined in accordance with the requirements of international standards.

The new requirements are determined by the technical regulations for tobacco products (Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “Technical Regulations for Tobacco Products”, which came into force in May 2016).

Prohibition of the sale of tobacco products to minors and minors.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated December 17, 2002 No. 28 “On state regulation of the production, circulation and consumption of tobacco raw materials and tobacco products” prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age; retail trade of tobacco products in educational, medical, children's cultural and educational institutions is prohibited. entertainment and educational institutions; in healthcare, cultural, educational, sports, etc. institutions.

The open display of tobacco products at retail outlets is prohibited, as is the production of non-tobacco products that resemble tobacco products in appearance.

Education and awareness of the population.

Constant information and educational work is carried out with the population at the mass, group and individual levels.

One of the main guiding principles of tobacco prevention activities, coordinated by the Ministry of Health, is the formation of an intolerant attitude towards smoking in society. Extensive information and educational activities have been organized to prevent smoking, in which young people are increasingly active. Common health days (World No Tobacco Day, World No Smoking Day, World Health Day, etc.), holidays, and promotions are held annually.

One of the important areas of work to promote a healthy lifestyle is the creation and demonstration of social advertising, including on issues of tobacco smoking prevention.

The work being carried out is yielding positive results: according to social studies, there is a decrease in the number of smokers to 27.9% (from 30.6% in 2010), which is lower than the prevalence of tobacco smoking in the European region.

However, the number of smokers is still quite high - 43% of men and 15.6% of women smoke. In the country, a problem that needs to be solved is the significant spread of passive smoking - about half of the population is exposed to the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke.

This indicates the need to continue work in this direction.

Currently, our country is actively working within the framework of the European Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. The goal is to reduce the influence of all major risk factors for non-communicable diseases, one of which is tobacco smoking. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of tobacco consumption among persons aged 16 years to 24.5 percent. This goal can be achieved by implementing a set of measures taking into account international experience and recommendations of the WHO FCTC.

The material was prepared by Olga Vladimirovna Bartman, head of the public health department of the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health. WHO information was used in preparation.