The head of the Tobacco Control Unit (UCT) of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Esteve Fernández, participated on Thursday 29th May in the World No Tobacco Day organised by the Ministry of Health. The event was attended by numerous representatives of the scientific community and professionals from the administration and the third sector.
In a speech dedicated to the importance of smoke-free environments, both indoor and outdoor, Esteve Fernández pointed out that nicotine concentrations in places such as bar and restaurant terraces, parks, health centres and public transport stops are still worrying, and called for bans to be extended to protect the health of non-smokers. He also stressed the need to promote smoke-free homes and called on institutions to step up campaigns to encourage people to voluntarily choose not to smoke at home.
In this sense, the head of the unit wanted to stress that “the time to act is now”, taking advantage of the fact that the Ministry of Health has decided to take a step forward and approve a Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking, which aims to reduce the prevalence of tobacco consumption and related products in the coming years.