The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year on May 31 “to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence” from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe.
In Iran, a week-long event on the occasion (May 25-31) includes a number of programs to help raise public awareness, particularly among the youth and women “who are main targets for tobacco conglomerates,” said Dr. Khosrow Sadeghniat, head of the Work and Environment Health Center affiliated to the ministry of health and medical education.
The World Health Organization (WHO) created the World No Tobacco Day in 1987. This year WHO plans to draw further attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. Currently there are six million deaths each year worldwide, including 600,000 non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
Anti-Tobacco Plans
“Encouraging cooperation from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry in educating the public in minimizing or eliminating use of tobacco products, including hookahs (or water pipes) in public places and food supply chains, is among the tobacco control plans,” said Sadeghniat, Mehr News Agency reported.
As part of the anti-tobacco drive, a contest to award the best cigarette pack design with the most effective health warning has been organized by the health ministry.
Setting up billboards and warning messages on the harmful effects of tobacco in crowded city areas as well as inserting warning slogans on letterheads of administrative offices are other measures.
“Tobacco-free life is every individual’s right” is this year’s slogan for the week, and various activities such as scientific seminars and conferences, promotional activities like designing posters, pamphlets, and commercial teasers and awarding those who have kicked the habit, are planned.
A public contest on the lines of the slogan will also be held at salamat.gov.ir and all nationals can take part.
Since 1988, the WHO has presented awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption.
The WNTD Awards are given to individuals from six regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific), and Director-General Special Awards and recognition certificates are given to individuals from any region.
