World No Tobacco Day (WNTD)

World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year on May 31. It is intended to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption and essentially to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4 million deaths worldwide annually.

With almost six million deaths of its users each year. the tobacco industry needs to attract new customers to replace those who die or manage to quit in order to maintain and increase tobacco sales and profits. At the core of the industry strategy to sell its products are tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS).

The Paris Heart Network is a member of ATCA (African Tobacco Control Alliance) and together we not only celebrate this important day, but work together on campaigning against the use of tobacco products.

Click here to read the World Health Organisation's 2013 WNTD campaign.