04.06.2026 Every year, on the initiative of the International Union against Cancer, on the third Thursday in November, a Non-smoking Day is held, aimed primarily at the prevention of oncological diseases, the risk factor for which is the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products. In development of this topic, in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus No. 1527 dated 11/21/2024, a Republican anti-smoking information and educational campaign was organized in our country from November 21 to November 30, 2024. The purpose of the campaign is to increase the literacy of the population in the prevention of cancer associated with the use of tobacco and nicotine–containing products, to form civil society support for measures aimed at combating tobacco consumption in accordance with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. According to the results of the study presented in STEPS: prevalence of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in the Republic of Belarus, in 2020, 26.7% of the population in our republic use tobacco products. Of particular concern is the use of heated tobacco products, which is more common among young people (18-29 years old) and is 7.6%. An estimated 9.4% of youth (8.9% boys, 9.9% girls) aged 13-15 years smoke cigarettes (CDC, 2015). There is a decrease in the average age of smoking initiation: in the age group of 18-29 years, the average age of smoking initiation was 16.4 years, in the age group of 60-69 years – 19.3 years (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2017c). This trend leads to an increase in patients with cancer. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is responsible for approximately 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer, the deadliest type of cancer in the world. For reference: LUNG CANCER is the second most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, claiming the lives of about 1.8 million people each year. The most important risk factor for developing this disease is tobacco smoking. Scientists from the University of Santiago de Compostela and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have reported that banning the sale of tobacco products WILL SAVE the LIVES of more than a million people worldwide (The Lancet Public Health magazine). In the scenario of the scientists' research, the sale of tobacco was prohibited for people born between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010. They assessed the impact of the tobacco-free generation on lung cancer mortality in a cohort of people from 185 countries. Globally, implementing a TOBACCO-FREE GENERATION can prevent more than 1.1 million deaths (40.2%) from lung cancer among people born between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010. Nevertheless, the authors of the IARC study emphasize that the "tobacco-free generation" policy is not enough to address the harmful effects of tobacco on health, especially for current smokers. They also called for proven measures such as higher taxes on cigarettes and the creation of more smoke-free zones, as well as support for smoking cessation efforts. Quitting smoking at any age is justified. There is no safe cigarette and no safe smoking. The only most effective way to reduce health risks is to STOP SMOKING!
