World Health Organization (Geneva)

Africa: World No Tobacco Day

31 May 2012

press release

Geneva — On 31st May each year WHO celebrates World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption.

Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide.

The World Health Assembly created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and its lethal effects. It provides an opportunity to highlight specific tobacco control messages and to promote adherence to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces.

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  • JMan
    May 31 2013, 13:56
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    Check out updates from activists all across Africa who are fighting for stronger tobacco control policies http://www.worldnotobaccodayafrica.org