Every year, around the world, May 31st is observed as World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). It is an occasion that reminds the public on the dangers of the habit of using tobacco and how to fight against the use of tobacco and regain health. It is an occasion to celebrate the non-smoking way of living and to encourage people addicted to tobacco to commit to quit.
World No Tobacco Day was formed in 1987. It is a day that reminds us about the massive scale of death related to tobacco usage. More than 8 million deaths happen every year worldwide due to the usage of tobacco in its various forms.
Use of tobacco in its various forms is one of the main killers of people globally. Smoking is the main cause for lung cancer and tobacco is believed to be responsible for about twenty two percentage of all deaths from cancer. World Health Organization created this special day to remind everyone about the importance of going tobacco-free.
No Tobacco Day is an occasion to spread awareness about the threats caused by smoking and other forms of usage of tobacco. It is a special day to offer someone a chance to step out of the clutches of tobacco and to live a healthier life.
According to WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, smokers have up to a 50 percent higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19. He advises smokers to quit smoking in order to lower their risk from the Corona Virus, as well as the risk of developing cancers, heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
Each year WHO selects a theme for WNTD and the theme for 2021 is ‘Commit to Quit’. The COVID-19 pandemic and the observations from WHO regarding the increased risks that this virus causes to those who use tobacco is reason enough for everyone to commit to quit smoking. You can read about ‘More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco’ shared by WHO from the following URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/more-than-100-reasons-to-quit-tobacco
