April 2015

Introduction to the special edition

In Celebration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), this month’s UICC membership newsletter is a special edition highlighting global challenges and opportunities in tobacco control, and some examples of the diverse initiatives that UICC members and partners are involved in. 

The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from the impacts of inhaling second-hand smoke. Tobacco use significantly increases the risk of developing cancer as, on average, smokers increase their risk of lung cancer between 5 and 10-fold. In developed countries, 80% of all lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. As tobacco use continues to rise in developing countries, similar patterns are said to be noted. 

WNTD is celebrated internationally every year on 31 May in order to underline the risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on all countries to work together to end the illicit trade of tobacco products, a global problem that has not only health, but economic, legal, and governance implications. 

Do you find these special editions of the newsletter useful? What other topics would be of interest to you? Please send your feedback to: membership@uicc.org