World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world on 31 May each year. The Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. Each year a different theme is selected that aims to educate the general public of the dangers of tobacco use.

This year's World No Tobacco Day was dedicated to the important role of health professionals in tobacco control under the banner of "Health Professionals against tobacco, action and answers". It was launched by WHO and the UK Department of Health in London on Tuesday, 31 May, 2005. Thousands of other national and local activities and celebrations were taking place around the world.

"Tobacco continues to be a leading global killer, with nearly five million deaths a year", notes Dr LEE Jong-wook, WHO Director-General, "The health community plays a key role in the global effort to fight this epidemic. Health professionals are on the frontline. They need the skills to help people stop smoking, and they need to lead by example, and quit tobacco use themselves."

Without additional efforts to implement solutions now, an estimated ten million tobacco-related deaths a year will occur by 2020, most of them in developing countries.

Health professionals, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and others, are trusted sources of information and advice, and are in an excellent position that allows them to have a prominent role on tobacco control. They are in contact with a high percentage of the population and can be instrumental in helping people change their behaviour.

The preamble of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which became a legally binding treaty on 27 February 2005, emphasizes the role of health professional bodies in efforts to include tobacco control in the public health agenda and to contribute actively to the reduction of tobacco consumption. In January 2004, during a meeting convened by WHO, several health professional associations adopted a code of practice on tobacco control that lists 14 tangible ways in which these associations can engage in tobacco control.

For further information, you may visit the WHO site.

World No Tobacco Day 2005 materials can be downloaded at the WHO site, including a booklet in PDF in English, French, and Spanish.