The right to health, the right to a safe environment, the worthy future of our children, a healthy nation as a whole. These are the factors that influence the outlook, activity and life of every citizen of our country.

I have been a supporter of a healthy lifestyle and introducing new technologies for many years, which can be a good alternative to improving the ecological situation in the country and aimed at creating a healthy nation. Among them, energy saving, sorting garbage, “stop smoking”.

The result of the implementation of these measures will be: increasing the quality of the environment, improving financial security and the economic situation. May 31 celebrated the World Tobacco Day. Since 1987, anti-tobacco campaigns have taken place around the world. In March 2006, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which provides for the urgent introduction of concrete measures to overcome the tobacco pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, more than 5 million people die every year from tobacco dependence. Among the main diseases – cardiovascular, respiratory system, lung cancer, other types of cancer.Just imagine this figure, about 11.5 million people in Ukraine, of which 9.1 million are men, 2.5 million – women – one third of the adult population – are regular smokers. The figures are disappointing.

How does it affect a person? The most harmful effect of the smoker comes from nicotine and carbon oxide. On the cardiovascular system – chronic fatigue, increased blood pressure, coronary heart disease, thrombosis in different vessels. On the respiratory organs – chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. Chronic quartz and hearing loss are also the result of the negative effects of ammonia contained in cigarette smoke. Chronic tracheitis and bronchitis. What to say about digestive, sensory and endocrine systems.Sufferers from pancreas, constant heartburn and nausea. This is only an incomplete list of what is felt and familiar to every tobacco dependent person. Of course, we do not pay attention to all of these indicators and statistics by the time. And the most unpleasant thing in this situation is that adults are the source of why their children are starting to smoke. Tobacco companies that supported it multiplied their capital. 12 years is the average age when most smokers smoked their first cigarette. The juvenile, yet unscrupulous, fragile and unformed infant body with tobacco smoke has a devastating effect on physical and mental development. And we can talk a lot about the symptoms, and, based on the statistics I have mentioned above, we understand that the result is not the one that deserves each person and a healthy nation. This is precisely the engine that grows every year and prompts society to intensify.

Thus, anti-tobacco companies are introduced, which unite groups of people, organizations of the country. One of the largest companies, “Throw Smoking and Win!”, Was introduced in Finland in 1994. It was held in 12 countries and attracted 60 000 smokers. According to the results of the campaign that lasted for a month – 30% of the participants quit smoking for more than one month. They remained non-smokers during the year. It is a pleasure that each year the number of countries and participants in this movement is constantly growing. In 2004, 79 countries and more than 500,000 smokers participated in it.Can a cash prize be promoted and for a lifetime to ruin the bad habit? On this question, as for me, there is no unambiguous answer. After all, motivation, will power, environment – are factors that will affect the outcome.

How can people with tobacco dependence stop smoking at the state level?In my belief, providing relief from smoking should be part of a national program to prevent tobacco dependence, the fight against tobacco. And its implementation and efficiency should be the responsibility of the government.

For today we have:

The legislation of Ukraine on measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on the health of the population is based on the Constitution of Ukraine and consists of the Fundamentals of the Ukrainian legislation on health care, the law on measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on public health and other normative legal acts adopted in accordance with them.

On December 16, 2012, the Law No. 4844 on the complete ban on smoking in public and at work places, including premises for restaurants, came into force in Ukraine.

Short and long-term doctors consultations on tobacco dependence and ways to overcome the problem, special Internet resources and smartphone add-ons, hotlines, media activity, campaigning for civic activists and non-indifferent citizens, increasing cigarette prices, tobacco advertising bans, informing about tobacco products consequences of smoking, etc.

As for the increase in the price of cigarettes. So, the world market dictates its rules and it certainly influences the formation of prices. A high price for cigarettes will reduce the number of smokers, as for ordinary citizens it is a compulsory step, given the low population status. For the country – it’s healthy population, reducing the number of diseases associated with smoking. Increasing excise taxes and raising taxes give additional revenue to the budget.

But the main thing that prompts the country to fight the problem of smoking is a healthy nation, a healthy young generation. Our educational activities at all levels, an example we give to the younger generation, is our responsibility with you. So do not be indifferent. Think again about how smoking affects others, the environment. We subconsciously do enough things that adversely affect us and the environment. Therefore, a conscious assessment of their actions, the statement of figures and facts should provide sufficient motivation for further action and life without tobacco!