Countries put a spotlight on lung health on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD)
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Armenia celebrated World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31 May 2019 with an open-air flash mob in Yerevan, the capital city. The event raised awareness of the deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure.
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In Hungary, WNTD events took place at the State Heart Hospital in Balatonfüred under the title “Three Generations of Health”. Activities for all ages included races, dancing and live entertainment. A mobile clinic was also available for general cardiopulmonary assessment and pulmonary function tests.
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A press conference marked the beginning of WNTD activities in Bulgaria to raise awareness of the negative impact of tobacco on human health. A hospital in Sofia offered free examinations for smokers to check their lung health. The free examinations were rolled out across Bulgaria in June, with check-ups available until the end of the year.
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To celebrate WNTD 2019, the Georgian agency for public health organized a meeting for key stakeholders with support from WHO. Presentations focused on recent achievements and challenges for tobacco control, and an awards ceremony honoured medical and public health representatives who have made contributions to lung health in Georgia.
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The Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan together with the WHO Country Office organized the country’s annual WNTD public event. It included quizzes and information about the dangers of tobacco use. WHO staff disseminated material on second-hand smoke, cessation tips and details about the centres that support those who decide to quit smoking.
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Kyiv hosted a public media event entitled “Breathe Easy in a Tobacco-Free World”, which consisted of a public yoga practice that received widespread coverage in Ukraine. This was followed by the launch of the Smoke-Free Ukraine campaign, a compilation of videos, posters and visual materials now being spread on social media.
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WNTD offers an opportunity to take stock of the achievements of tobacco control advocates around the globe. WHO awards selected individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the fight against tobacco. The award winners in the WHO European Region in 2019 are:Galina Sakharova, Professor and Chief Researcher at the Central Research Institute for Organization and Informatization of Health Care (Russian Federation);Hans Gilljam, Professor Emeritus of Public Health Science at the Karolinska Institute (Sweden); Dutch Alliance for a Smoke-Free Society (Netherlands); No Excuse Slovenia – Youth Network (Slovenia); Shira Kislev, Chief Executive Officer of Smoke-Free Israel (Israel); and Smoke-Free Life Coalition (Bulgaria).