Protecting Children: WHO Releases School Guide on Tobacco Control

According to a report from The Guardian on September 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released two new publications in an effort to protect children's health. The publications are titled "Tobacco-Free and Nicotine-Free: School Guidelines" and "Nicotine and Tobacco-Free School Toolkit." The WHO stated in the report that due to targeted marketing of tobacco and nicotine products to young people by the tobacco industry, the use of e-cigarettes is becoming increasingly common. The report also highlighted that nine out of ten smokers begin smoking before the age of 18.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted in a statement that the tobacco industry ruthlessly inundates the market with tobacco and nicotine products aimed at adolescents, leading to a continuous rise in e-cigarette usage. Shockingly, 90% of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. Additionally, the availability of single-pack cigarettes and e-cigarettes makes these products more affordable, while their packaging often lacks proper health warnings.

The statement also mentioned that in August of this year, US regulatory agencies warned companies to cease the sale of illegal e-cigarettes that target teenagers using educational materials, cartoon characters, or even teddy bear-shaped designs.

Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the importance of protecting young people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and toxic e-cigarette emissions, as well as the promotion of these products. Speaking on the matter, he stated that new guidance manuals and toolkits have been developed to serve as step-by-step guidelines for schools to create a nicotine-free and smoke-free environment. However, achieving this goal requires the participation of the entire school community, including teachers, staff, students, and parents.

These guidelines and toolkits encompass various topics, including how to help students quit smoking, conduct educational campaigns, implement policies, and enforce these policies. According to this guide, there are four methods to create a nicotine and tobacco-free environment for teenagers, which include banning nicotine and tobacco products on campus, prohibiting the sale of nicotine and tobacco products near schools, banning direct or indirect advertising, and refusing any sponsorship or collaboration with the nicotine and tobacco industry.

According to Ludwig Krieg, many countries around the world have successfully implemented policies supporting tobacco-free and nicotine-free campuses. These countries include India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.

According to reports, the newly released World Health Organization (WHO) tool guide helps establish a nicotine-free and tobacco-free school environment, further ensuring the health and safety of children.