World No Tobacco Day 2024- History, Theme, Significance

World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31. The day aims to raise awareness about the effects of tobacco on health, what WHO is doing to fight this epidemic, and how people around the world can play their part in protecting future generations. ‘Smoking kills’. You must have seen this message on the big screen while watching a movie or an advertisement. Smoking cigarettes is one of the most common forms of tobacco use in the world. This caution is well-substantiated, as the effects and consequences of smoking can be ever-lasting such as oral aches, tooth loss, dental cavities, ulceration, and more. 

Name of the Day	World No Tobacco Day
Date	May 31
Organisation	World Health Organisation (WHO)
Theme for 2024	Protecting children from tobacco industry interference

History of World No Tobacco Day 

• The World No Tobacco Day was established in 1987.
• It aimed to draw global attention to the side effects of consuming tobacco which manifests in the form of numerous health diseases.
• This was the year when the World Health Assembly of WHO passed a resolution wherein “a world no-smoking day” was proposed to be conducted on April 7.
• It urged people who smoke to abstain from tobacco usage for one day, hoping it would help those who are trying to quit smoking.
• But then another resolution was passed that called for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, every year.

Also Read: World Health Day

What is the Theme of World No Tobacco Day in 2024?

In 2024, the theme of World No Tobacco Day is, “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.” It highlights the importance of protecting the country’s youth from tobacco and ensuring their overall well-being. This is because the industry often target young people with effective marketing strategies. Similarly, the theme in 2023 was, We need food, Not Tobacco.

Importance of World No Tobacco Day 

Why must a step such as introducing and dedicating a day such as World No Tobacco Day be taken at such a global scale? What is the importance of this Day? We answer these questions below. 

1. This day is crucial since it plays an important role in spreading awareness and educating people about the various facets of tobacco, from its cultivation to its usage, among wider groups of people all over the world. 
2. Not only that, WHO announces various campaigns and suggestions to governments, encouraging action to end tobacco consumption– which causes more than 1 crore people to die every year. 
3. This day conveys the message to younger people and encourages them to take action against this harmful habit. 
4. This day also brings attention to the tobacco companies and their ways to lure the younger generation to consume tobacco. WHO continues to expose companies such as this, and share awareness of the fatal health effects of tobacco. 
5. Also, this day further encourages the media, social activists and welfare groups to hold sessions on spreading awareness and come together to stand with this cause. 

Also Read: World NGO Day

What You Can Do?

Some of the steps that you can do on this day are:

1. Share information about this day and its cause, and spread awareness!
2. Have a conversation with the younger generation about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and share facts and figures to substantiate your argument. 
3. Help people who are trying to quit smoking with the right resources and access to treatments. 
4. Attend seminars and sessions yourself to be educated further on this topic. 
5. Talk about it with people from the economically underprivileged sections of society. 

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