30 May - Health - Tomorrow is World No-Tobacco Day

In today’s show, we spoke to Dr Yussuf Saloojee – Executive Director at the National Council against Smoking. We were talking about the dangers of smoking. Tomorrow is the World No-Tobacco Day and the theme for this year is “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the world's foremost tobacco control instrument. The first treaty ever negotiated under the auspices of WHO, it represents a signal achievement in the advancement of public health. World No Tobacco Day 2011 will be designed to highlight the treaty's overall importance, to stress Parties' obligations under the treaty and to promote the essential role of the Conference of the Parties and WHO in supporting countries' efforts to meet those obligations. It is reported that in South Africa, more than 43 000 people die every year from diseases directly and indirectly related to tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke contains at least 4 000 chemicals of which many can cause cancer. Dr Saloojee explained more. For more information visit www.againstsmoking.co.za or contact their offices on (011) 725 1514 or the Quit Line on (011) 720 3145, alternatively go to www.who.int