MAY 31 - WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY

The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, announced May 31 as a World No Tobacco Day (World NoTobacco Day).

Every year, WHO and partners everywhere celebrate this day, drawing attention to the health hazards associated with tobacco use, and encouraging states to carry out effective policies to reduce the scale of its consumption.

The overall aim of the World No Tobacco Day is to promote the protection of present and future generations not only from the devastating health, but also on the social, environmental and economic hazards associated with its use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

According to WHO, each year from the "tobacco epidemic" in the world dies of about 6 million people (more than 600 thousand of them, not being smokers die due to exposure to second-hand smoke). In the absence of action by 2030 this figure will rise to 8 million.

In 2003, the 56th World Health Assembly adopted the Framework Convention of the World Health Organization on Tobacco Control (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, WHO FCTC). This is the first legal document which is intended to reduce mortality due to tobacco consumption and reducing the use of tobacco in the world. These provisions set international standards and guidelines for tobacco control in the following areas: price and tax increases on tobacco, tobacco sales to and by minors, advertising and sponsorship, labeling, illicit trade and second-hand smoke.

Uzbekistan has taken systematic measures aimed at the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and preventive work to combat smoking.

Our country is one of the first in the CIS has joined the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The country has the Law "On limiting distribution and consumption of alcohol and tobacco products". According to Article 19 of the legal act its not allowed to use tobacco products in the workplace, in health care, education, sports and recreation facilities, fire-places, including gas stations, and other public places, except in designated areas and facilities for the use of tobacco products, and as in all forms of public transport. In addition, it prohibits the sale of tobacco products to citizens who have not reached the age of twenty.

Uzbekistan is a participant in the global fight against tobacco, is actively cooperating with international organizations in this direction. In particular, the Republic of Uzbekistan shall partnership with the WHO strategy "Health 2020". Among the measures envisaged in the document - the strengthening of measures to combat smoking. In particular, it involves tax policy on tobacco products.

Together with the International Development Association, the project "Health-2". Its purpose is to assist in the expansion of the republic of reforms in primary health care and the introduction of general practice.

Thus, the project with the participation of international consultants prepared "Strategy of Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2008-2020", approved by the Ministry of Health. Also developed a "National Programme for Tobacco Control in Uzbekistan", covering the period of 2007-2017.

In addition, the International Health Institute and the Tashkent Institute of Advanced Medical conducted a study on the prevalence and smoking among housewives and medical patients. Their results are used to develop appropriate tobacco control policies and programs.

Policy on Tobacco Control is represented in the new National Action Plan of the Republic of Uzbekistan, work on the project which is conducted in conjunction with the WHO. In the near future the document will be adopted.

State and public organizations of Uzbekistan conducted consistent advocacy and outreach on the dangers of smoking through the media and propaganda posters. Family doctors and health visitors nurse primary health care institutions regularly engaged in propaganda in families healthy lifestyle in order to protect young people from bad habits such as alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction. With the help of special items in the schools formed the needs of students in a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, training manuals, booklets and visual aids prepared together with specialists, distributed among the population, in particular young people in the communities, educational institutions and public transport. At the same time are monitored ongoing awareness-raising activities.

In the field of trade in tobacco products is also conducted outreach. Sellers get the necessary information about the nature and purpose of the law on the limitation of distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages. In the field of trade similar products posters about the dangers of smoking, in which the numbers of "hotlines" Federation of Consumer Rights Protection in Uzbekistan.

The implementation of the relevant medical and social projects we are engaged in Mahalla. By community groups from among the activists Mahalla carried out in educational institutions, recreation areas and sports grounds and public control advocacy. Also, in order to protect young people from harmful habits in the framework of cooperation "Family-School-Mahalla" organized large-scale promotional activities, competitions, aimed at strengthening a healthy lifestyle.

Only in the capital, Tashkent, in 2014, was organized around three thousand such events, which accepted the participation of more than 130 thousand people.

In the past year throughout the country at the initiative of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan was conducted social action under the motto "We are against smoking!".

It aims to become a wide agitation and propaganda among the youth issues of struggle against smoking and use of tobacco products, the formation of the young men and women of a healthy lifestyle, to develop practical proposals for effective interaction of government, law enforcement agencies and public organizations in the field of human health and protection of the environment.

The campaign was a series of meetings, conferences and seminars with the participation of professors and college students, medical professionals, activists of political parties and public organizations.

IA "Jahon"