Geneva: Around half of all children around the world are reported to breathe in air polluted by tobacco smoke, and around 51,000 children die each year from illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Interestingly, almost nine out of 10 smokers start smoking by the age of 18 years, and 99% start by the age of 26 years. These figures are highlighted in a new publication, Freedom from tobacco and nicotine: guide for schools, which was released by the World Health Organization (WHO) here today.
The publication further points out that every year, tobacco kills over 8 million people – one person every four seconds. More than 7 million of those deaths are caused by direct tobacco use while an estimated 1.3 million are due to exposure of non-smokers to second-hand smoke.
More than 80% of the world’s 1.8 billion young people (aged 10–24 years) live in developing countries. They are aggressively targeted by the tobacco and related industries and their deadly nicotine products. Products have also been made more affordable for young people through the sale of single-use cigarettes and e-cigarettes, which typically lack health warnings.
The publication mentions that while nicotine products contain toxic substances, tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and at least 70 are known to cause cancer.
Along with the guide, yet another publication released today by WHO, Nicotine- and tobacco-free school toolkit, are meant to help protect children’s health just in time for back-to-school season in many countries. The new guide and toolkit are step-by-step manuals for schools to create nicotine- and tobacco-free campuses, but it takes a “whole of school” approach – which includes teachers, staff, students, parents, etc. The guide and toolkit include topics on how to support students to quit, education campaigns, implementing policies and how to enforce them.
“Whether sitting in class, playing games outside or waiting at the school bus stop, we must protect young people from deadly second-hand smoke and toxic e-cigarette emissions as well as ads promoting these products,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion, World Health Organization.
Countries worldwide highlighted in the publication as having successfully implemented policies that support tobacco and nicotine-free campuses include India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.
The guide highlights four ways to foster a nicotine- and tobacco-free environment for young people:
- banning nicotine and tobacco products on school campuses;
- prohibiting their sale near schools;
- banning their direct and indirect ads and promotion near schools; and
- refusing sponsorship or engagement with tobacco and nicotine industries.
Regulators in the United States last month warned companies to stop selling illegal e-cigarettes that appeal to youth by resembling school supplies, cartoon characters, and even teddy bears.
WHO said the new guide can help create nicotine- and tobacco-free schools that help keep kids healthy and safe. Nicotine- and tobacco-free policies help to prevent young people from starting to smoke; create a healthier, more productive student body; protect youth from toxic chemicals in second-hand smoke; reduce cigarette litter; and cut cleaning costs.
To protect people’s health, WHO said it encourages all countries to make all indoor public places completely smoke-free in line with Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
– global bihari bureau
