Islamabad (Web Desk): World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is being observed today (Friday) across the globe including Pakistan.
This year, the theme is "Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference" underscores the critical need to prevent future generations from falling prey to the harmful impact of tobacco use.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) quoting 2022 data, worldwide, at least 37 million young people aged 13–15 years use some form of tobacco.
Products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among youth.
It is estimated that 12.5% of adolescents in the European Region used e-cigarettes in 2022 compared to 2% of adults.
In some countries of the Region, the rates of e-cigarette use among school children are 2–3 times higher than the rates of cigarette smoking.
As per the WHO The industry wilfully sells a deadly dependency to young people, therefore WNTD 2024 calls on the governments and tobacco control community to protect current and future generations and to hold the tobacco industry liable for the harm it causes.
The WHO passed a resolution WHA40.38 in 1987 and declared April 7, 1988, "a world no-smoking day.
This marks the 40th anniversary of the organisation and this was the first step in the direction of a broader movement.
Once the no-smoking day succeeded, the WHO established Resolution WHA42.19 in 1988 and created World No Tobacco Day which will be observed every year on May 31.
This day plays a key role in raising awareness among people about the potential health risks associated with tobacco use.
This includes the risk involved in the dangers of smoking and the use of tobacco products causing health issues like cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory illnesses.