World No Tobacco Day 2021: Commit to quit

Overview
The World No Tobacco Day is celebrated each year on May 31. It was initiated in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.

In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

Theme :
2020 – Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use
2019 – Tobacco and lung health
2018 – Tobacco and heart disease
2017 – Tobacco – a threat to development
2016 – Get ready for plain packaging
2015 – Stop illicit trade of tobacco products
2014 – Raise taxes on tobacco
2013 – Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
2012 – Tobacco industry interference
2011 – The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
2010 – Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women
2009 – Tobacco health warnings
2008 – Tobacco-free youth
2007 – Smoke free inside
2006 – Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise
2005 – Health professionals against tobacco
2004 – Tobacco and poverty, a vicious circle
2003 – Tobacco free film, tobacco free fashion
2002 – Tobacco free sports
2001 – Second-hand smoke kills
2000 – Tobacco kills, don’t be duped
1999 Leave the pack behind
1998 Growing up without tobacco
1997 United for a tobacco free world
1996 Sport and art without tobacco: play it tobacco free
1995 Tobacco costs more than you think
1994 Media and tobacco: get the message across
1993 Health services: our windows to a tobacco free world
1992 Tobacco free workplaces: safer and healthier
1991 Public places and transport: better be tobacco free
1990 Childhood and youth without tobacco: growing up without tobacco
1989 Women and tobacco: the female smoker: at added risk
1988 Tobacco or Health: choose health
NEPAL–NCDS RISK FACTORS STEPS SURVEY 2019 – TOBACCO FACTSHEET

Theme 2021: Commit to quit
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users wanting to quit. However, quitting tobacco is challenging, especially with the added social and economic stresses brought about by the pandemic.

Worldwide, around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30% of them have access to the tools that can help them to overcome both physical and mental addictions to tobacco. Together with partners, WHO will provide people with the tools and resources they need to make a successful attempt at quitting.

Quitting tobacco has major and immediate health benefits :
There are immediate and long-term health benefits to quitting tobacco. After just 20 minutes of quitting smoking, the heart rate drops. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal. Within 2–12 weeks, the circulation improves and lung function increases. Within 1–9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Within 5–15 years, the stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker. Within 10 years, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker. Within 15 years, the risk of heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

Source of Info: WHO, WHO EURO