FIGHT WITH US FOR SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS!
FIGHT WITH US FOR SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS!
Geneva, 31st May - Despite being today recognized as one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide and as a tremendous risk factor in the onset of cardiovascular disease, direct and indirect tobacco consumption is still progressing in many parts of the world, specifically in developing countries.
However, the fight against tobacco consumption is also gaining ground. The World Heart Federation is spearheading this movement, notably by supporting the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC argues for the implementation of smoke free policies in all the signatory countries, as 100% smoke free legislation is the best way to protect passive, and ultimately active, smokers.
Gearing up for the Second Conference of the FCTC parties at the end of June, the World No Tobacco Day has made this topic the focus of this year event, with its “Smoke Free Inside” theme. It advocates for 100% smoke free environments as the only realistic option to ensure the decrease of smoking-related diseases’ prevalence.
As a leader in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the World Heart Federation is a resolute defender of this argument: smoking accounts for 20% of cardiovascular disease deaths. Passive smoking is as deadly; the International Labour Organization estimates that at least 200 000 workers die every year due to exposure to second hand smoking at work. In light of these facts, the World Heart Federation encourages its members not only to observe World No Tobacco Day, but also to take this chance to participate in the global effort to fight second hand smoking. “Everyone should have the right to work in a healthy environment. Most people in the world are non-smokers and should be protected from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. This can be done at a country level by joining the FCTC if this is not already done or starting and up-scaling initiatives to implement smoke free legislation” said Janet Voûte, CEO of the World Heart Federation.
A first step in this direction will also be to support the Global Smoke Free Partnership, an alliance established by the World Heart Federation among others, to promote the implementation of smoke free policies in accordance with the FCTC. Today the Global Smoke Free Partnership launches the first global report on smoke free legislation around the world, Global Voices for a Smoke Free World. The report will show that these policies work in the countries that have put them in action: in Ireland, the smoking ban has resulted in an 83 percent drop in air pollution in pubs, improving bar workers' health, according to a study published by the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society in collaboration with the Dublin Institute of Technology.
To know more about the World No Tobacco Day, and download toolkits, please visit: http://www.who.int/tobacco/communications/events/wntd/2007/en/index.html
To know more about the Framework Convention, please visit: http://www.fctc.org/
To know more about the Global Smoke Free Partnership and the Global Voices campaign, and download toolkits, please visit: http://www.globalsmokefreepartnership.org/
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation, a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, is committed to helping the global population achieve a longer and better life through prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. It is comprised of 189 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas and Africa. For further information visit: www.worldheart.org