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World No Tobacco Day 2009
Theme : Tobacco Health Warnings
On the World
No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2009, India introduced pictorial
health warnings on all tobacco product packs. Health
warnings with pictures are proven to motivate tobacco users to quit and for
those who are not yet addicted to reduce the appeal of tobacco.
Article 11 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control mandates all
countries that have ratified this international treaty to have large, clear
and visible health warnings or other messages that include pictures conveying
the harmful effects of tobacco use. Displaying health warnings on tobacco
packs is one of the six important strategies of WHO MPOWER policy package for
tobacco control.
Most
people are unaware of the extent of harm caused by tobacco. The tobacco
companies use packaging and advertising techniques to make tobacco appealing
while distracting consumers from the harsh reality of how tobacco destroys
health.
The
pictorial warnings on tobacco use convey a clear and immediate message even
to people who cannot read.
A number of events
were organized on the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2009.
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