This WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic focuses on protecting the public from secondhand smoke, highlighting that indoor public spaces are now completely smoke-free in almost 40 percent of countries. Which is five times more than in 2007. A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that 5.6 billion people, which is 71 percent of the world's population, are now protected with at least one best practice policy.
This WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic focuses on protecting the public from secondhand smoke, highlighting that indoor public spaces are now completely smoke-free in almost 40 percent of countries.
There is still a lot of work to be done, the report said, adding that 44 countries are unprotected by any of the WHO's Empowerment measures and 53 countries still do not have a full ban on smoking in health facilities. Meanwhile, only half of countries have smoke-free private workplaces and restaurants.
“About 1.3 million people die from secondhand smoke every year.” All these deaths are entirely preventable. People exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke are at increased risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, the report said.