WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
THEME: TOBACCO AND LUNG HEALTH
Every year 31st May the World Health Organization and global partners celebrate world no tobacco day. The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effect of tobacco use and second hand smoke exposure aimed at discouraging the use of tobacco in any form.
The focus of World Tobacco Day is on Tobacco and Lung Health, the campaign will increase awareness on the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s health and particularly lung health, ranging from cancer to chronic respiratory diseases. Due to the fundamental role lungs play on the health and well being of all people, it is recommended that the most effective measure to improve lung health is to reduce tobacco use and second hand smoke exposure.
The process of growing tobacco, manufacturing tobacco products and delivering them to retailers causes severe and irreversible damage to the environment , the harmful effect tobacco has on the environment include deforestation , water contamination and climate change.
Deforestation for tobacco growing has many serious environmental consequences including loss of biodiversity , water pollution, soil erosion, degradation and increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. These chemicals can affect drinking water sources as a result of run off from tobacco growing areas. Cigarette butts are not just a nuisance, they are toxic waste, and they contain chemicals that contaminate our waterways and soil. Discarded lit cigarettes can cause fires which can damage homes and landscape.
Apart from direct harm done to human health, cigarette smoke produces more air pollution than diesel car exhaust, it is on this grounds that Green Cameroon joins the international community to raise awareness on this great ill that is affecting our communities today.
