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World no tobacco day 2018: time to end the heartbreak
World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is held each year on 31 May; this year marked the 30th anniversary since the first WNTD in 1988. As noted in an Unfairtobacco newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/25270b75535d/a-day-that-shouldnt-exist), around 200 million people have died because of tobacco since the first WNTD. It is a day that should not exist.
All articles written by Marita Hefler unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to: marita.hefler@menzies.edu.au
Despite these depressing statistics, and the tragic stories behind each and every tobacco-caused death, progress is being made. WNTD is an important occasion to focus both the public and policy-makers on changing the course of tobacco epidemic. This year’s theme ‘Tobacco Breaks Hearts’ focused on the fact that tobacco use is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, something which has low awareness among many sections of the public.
The extraordinary leadership of Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez which has seen Uruguay become a global tobacco control leader, was recognised with the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award for WNTD. Dr Vázquez, a former oncologist, first served as Uruguay’s president from 2005 to 2010. During this time, Uruguay implemented smoke-free policies in all enclosed spaces except private homes, introduced health warnings to cover 80% of cigarette packs, banned most tobacco advertising and sponsorship, banned misleading descriptors such as light and mild, increased taxes to 70% of the pack cost and limited tobacco companies to sell only one variant of a brand.
In addition to his achievements, scaling up tobacco-control efforts in accordance with the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda for Uruguay, Dr Vázquez in 2017 was host of the WHO Global Conference on non-communicable diseases, where he played a pivotal role in influencing other heads of state to implement similar …