Delegates attending the ongoing conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco control treaty holding in Bangkok, Thailand, have unanimously recommended the adoption of guidelines that will help governments adopt stringent smoke-free laws.
It is expected that the full conference will approve the guidelines, which are based on the principles that second-hand smoke kills, and that there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and that all people - especially workers - deserve to be protected from second-hand smoke.
Shoba John, chair of the Global Smoke-free Partnership, and board member of the Framework Alliance on Tobacco Control at the conference said "For millions of lives to be saved governments must implement these guidelines immediately. We applaud the parties to the treaty for unanimously acknowledging that second-hand smoke kills and taking positive measures to address this threat to global health."
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world's first treaty addressing a public health issue.
When approved, these guidelines will provide a vital tool for governments and tobacco control advocates to formulate and implement smoking bans based on best available practice.
According to reports, in Ireland which was the first nation to adopt 100% smoke-free laws, evidence shows that it has the laws have helped to improve workers health in indoor work areas, restaurants, bars, and public transit systems and also assist smokers to quit.
Eduardo Bianco, Head of the Uruguay Delegation said his country "was the first country in Latin America to go 100% smoke-free," adding that "we are pleased that our efforts to help develop these guidelines will result in millions of lives saved around the world."
“In Kenya, the tobacco industry has consistently interfered with legislation designed to protect our people and workers from second-hand smoke," according to Dr. Ahmed Ogwell, Kenya's chief delegate and Head of International Health Relations in the country's health ministry.
He added "Now that the parties to the tobacco control treaty have formally adopted these guidelines, they will prove to be an important tool in our efforts to protect Kenyans from second-hand smoke."
Secondhand smoke contains some 4,000 chemicals, at least 69 of which are known to cause cancer. These guidelines will provide the first official guidance on how best to protect people from second-hand smoke. The guidelines provide unequivocal, evidence-based instructions that designated smoking areas or rooms, and ventilation systems designed to remove tobacco smoke.
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