May 31 marks World No-Tobacco Day

CAIRO – 31 May 2021: The World Health Organization and its partners celebrate World No-Tobacco Day each year on May 31, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and calling for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally, given that it currently kills one in ten adults worldwide.

The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people annually, of whom more than 600,000 are non-smokers who die from indirect smoke inhalation.

If necessary measures are not taken, this epidemic will claim the lives of more than 8 million people annually until 2030. Of these preventable deaths, 80 percent will be people living in low- and middle-income countries.

The ultimate goal of World No-Tobacco Day is to contribute to protecting present and future generations from these devastating health consequences, and from the social, environmental and economic calamities of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.