World No Tobacco Day - May 31, 2006

World No Tobacco Day - May 31, 2006

SASKATOON : May 31, 2006. Every year the World Health Organization invites people all over the world to focus on issues related to tobacco or health on this special day, May 31, which has been designated by the World Health Assembly as World No Tobacco Day.

This year it is within days of the death of Ottawa waitress Heather Crowe, who worked continuously in her three years of dying to reduce everyone's exposure to tobacco smoke.  The Lung Association of Saskatchewan is calling for all levels of government, including First Nations, to combine efforts to remove this health hazard from all public places and worksites.

Every ten seconds, somewhere in the world, tobacco kills another victim.  This global problem is increasingly ravaging poorer countries that can least afford its toll of disability, disease and lost productivity from good agricultural land while tobacco industry profits increase.  Although tobacco sales are declining in Canada, the same is not true for much of the developing world.

The Lung Association of Saskatchewan supports the motion introduced this month by Senator Mac Harb urging the Government of Canada to make all enclosed work areas and public places within its jurisdiction smoke-free and urging all provincial governments to enact comprehensive smoke-free legislation.

A smoke-free Canada is within reach.

The Lung Association also appreciates the federal government's announcement this month to remove misleading descriptors such as "light" and "mild" from tobacco packaging.  There is nothing light and mild about the health problems caused by this product.  Most cases of COPD result from tobacco smoke and this includes many who, like Heather Crowe, were exposed to the smoke from others.

Despite the increased publicity, 600,000 Canadian children under 12 years old are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke in their homes.  No one should have to breathe toxic smoke - not at work, not at play, not in their homes and not in their cars.

It is time to clear the air.

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Contact:      Paul Van Loon, Health Educator
343-9640, ext. 226 - (Saskatoon )
e-mail: paul.vanloon@sk.lung.ca