PROGRESS CONTINUES NEARLY 3.8 BILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW COVERED BY AN EFFECTIVE TOBACCO CONTROL MEASURE detailed national-level data collected on a The number of people now protected by This report appears at a crucial moment global basis for anti-tobacco mass media in the fight against the growing epidemic tobacco control measures is growing at a campaigns of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remarkable pace.The progress made on applying measures that reduce the demand The data are impressive.More than -primarily cancers,diabetes,and for tobacco is a sign of the increasing impact 1 billion people now live in countries with cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases -which account for 63%of all deaths of the WHO Framework Convention on legislation that requires large graphic health worldwide and for which tobacco use is one Tobacco Control,which continues to be one warnings on every cigarette pack sold in their countries,and 1.9 billion people live of the biggest contributing agents.These of the most rapidly embraced,measurably diseases kill an astounding 36 million people successful treaties in United Nations history. in the 23 countries that have aired high- quality national anti-tobacco mass media each year,with 80%of deaths occurring in This report,the third periodic country-level low-and middle-income countries that can campaigns within the past two years.It examination of the global tobacco epidemic, least afford them.An estimated 9 million is clear that substantial progress is being identifies the countries that have applied deaths occur below the age of 60 years.On made against this deadly product.Low-and effective tobacco control measures that middle-income countries have been in the 19-20 September 2011,the United Nations save lives.These countries can be held up as General Assembly will hold its first-ever forefront of developing anti-tobacco mass models of action for the many countries that high-level meeting to consider the threat media campaigns,showing that countries need to do more to protect their people from and impact of noncommunicable diseases can successfully implement this intervention the harms of tobacco use.Tobacco continues on global health and human development. regardless of income dassification. to kill nearly 6 million people each year, Heads of State will discuss during this induding more than 600 000 non-smokers Nevertheless,the tobacco epidemic meeting in New York how to raise awareness who die from exposure to tobacco smoke.Up continues to expand because of ongoing of and plot strategies against this cluster to half of the world's 1 billion smokers will tobacco industry marketing,population of related diseases that share several risk eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. growth in countries where tobacco use is factors,most notably tobacco use. However,we have the power to change these increasing,and the extreme addictiveness circumstances. of tobacco that makes it difficult for people Because tobacco use and exposure to to stop smoking once they start.Although tobacco smoke cause a large proportion of Over the past two years,1.1 billion people there has been progress,only 19 countries global illness and death,tobacco control have become covered by at least one follow best-practice standards by requiring must be given the high priority it deserves MPOWER measure newly applied at the highest level.This is the result of action large graphic health warnings on tobacco so that we can expand on the successes we product packages-none of which are have already realized.Consequently,tobacco taken by 30 countries-over half of them low-income countries.All countries,in control measures are expected to be scaled classified as low-or middle-income-which partnership with the United Nations,health up as a core component of the outcome for have applied measures that,while requiring development agencies and civil society, the United Nations high-level meeting on relatively little investment,are proven to be NCD's. can and must do more by meeting their highly effective at changing tobacco use commitments under the WHO Framework As Dr Margaret Chan,Director-General of patterns and saving lives. Convention on Tobacco Control and its the World Health Organization has said, The focus of this report is on warning people corresponding guidelines. "What gets measured gets done".This about the harms of tobacco use.People have report is a strong and important step in our an inherent right to receive this information, ongoing measurement of what has been and countries have an obligation to provide achieved in tobacco control and how much it.The two main types of warnings are more countries need to do.We can and must examined:health warning labels on tobacco continue this work-millions of people's packages and national anti-tobacco mass lives are at stake. media campaigns.Large and graphic warning labels and hard-hitting mass media Dr Ala Alwan campaigns have proven effective in reducing Assistant Director-General tobacco use and encouraging people to World Health Organization quit.This report presents for the first time WHO REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC,2011WHO REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC, 2011 7 Progress continues – nearly 3.8 billion people are now covered by an effective tobacco control measure detailed national-level data collected on a global basis for anti-tobacco mass media campaigns. The data are impressive. More than 1 billion people now live in countries with legislation that requires large graphic health warnings on every cigarette pack sold in their countries, and 1.9 billion people live in the 23 countries that have aired high￾quality national anti-tobacco mass media campaigns within the past two years. It is clear that substantial progress is being made against this deadly product. Low- and middle-income countries have been in the forefront of developing anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, showing that countries can successfully implement this intervention regardless of income classification. Nevertheless, the tobacco epidemic continues to expand because of ongoing tobacco industry marketing, population growth in countries where tobacco use is increasing, and the extreme addictiveness of tobacco that makes it difficult for people to stop smoking once they start. Although there has been progress, only 19 countries follow best-practice standards by requiring large graphic health warnings on tobacco product packages – none of which are low-income countries. All countries, in partnership with the United Nations, health development agencies and civil society, can and must do more by meeting their commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its corresponding guidelines. The number of people now protected by tobacco control measures is growing at a remarkable pace. The progress made on applying measures that reduce the demand for tobacco is a sign of the increasing impact of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which continues to be one of the most rapidly embraced, measurably successful treaties in United Nations history. This report, the third periodic country-level examination of the global tobacco epidemic, identifies the countries that have applied effective tobacco control measures that save lives. These countries can be held up as models of action for the many countries that need to do more to protect their people from the harms of tobacco use. Tobacco continues to kill nearly 6 million people each year, including more than 600 000 non-smokers who die from exposure to tobacco smoke. Up to half of the world’s 1 billion smokers will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. However, we have the power to change these circumstances. Over the past two years, 1.1 billion people have become covered by at least one MPOWER measure newly applied at the highest level. This is the result of action taken by 30 countries – over half of them classified as low- or middle-income – which have applied measures that, while requiring relatively little investment, are proven to be highly effective at changing tobacco use patterns and saving lives. The focus of this report is on warning people about the harms of tobacco use. People have an inherent right to receive this information, and countries have an obligation to provide it. The two main types of warnings are examined: health warning labels on tobacco packages and national anti-tobacco mass media campaigns. Large and graphic warning labels and hard-hitting mass media campaigns have proven effective in reducing tobacco use and encouraging people to quit. This report presents for the first time This report appears at a crucial moment in the fight against the growing epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – primarily cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases – which account for 63% of all deaths worldwide and for which tobacco use is one of the biggest contributing agents. These diseases kill an astounding 36 million people each year, with 80% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries that can least afford them. An estimated 9 million deaths occur below the age of 60 years. On 19–20 September 2011, the United Nations General Assembly will hold its first-ever high-level meeting to consider the threat and impact of noncommunicable diseases on global health and human development. Heads of State will discuss during this meeting in New York how to raise awareness of and plot strategies against this cluster of related diseases that share several risk factors, most notably tobacco use. Because tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke cause a large proportion of global illness and death, tobacco control must be given the high priority it deserves so that we can expand on the successes we have already realized. Consequently, tobacco control measures are expected to be scaled up as a core component of the outcome for the United Nations high-level meeting on NCD’s. As Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization has said, “What gets measured gets done”. This report is a strong and important step in our ongoing measurement of what has been achieved in tobacco control and how much more countries need to do. We can and must continue this work – millions of people’s lives are at stake. Dr Ala Alwan Assistant Director-General World Health Organization