World Lung Foundation Commends Bloomberg Philanthropies on Significant Progress Toward Reducing the Deadly Toll of Tobacco

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Launch of new report highlights five years of advances in global tobacco control

(New York, USA) - World Lung Foundation today congratulated Bloomberg Philanthropies on the launch of its first progress report of the global Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use (the Initiative), of which World Lung Foundation is a principal partner. The report details significant achievements in the global fight against tobacco use over the past five years and stands testament to the continuing work of the Initiative.

According to the report, 21 more countries have passed 100% smoke-free laws and 303 tobacco laws have been drafted or consultations provided since the initiative started in 2007. Recognising that education and communication are key elements in helping consumers to make the right choices, the Initiative has also helped to educate 4,500 journalists from low- and middle-income countries on tobacco control issues and has trained 7,000 public health professionals in tobacco control. In total, the report estimates that there has been a 400% increase in the percentage of people protected from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

Peter Baldini, Chief Executive Officer, World Lung Foundation commented: “Bloomberg Philanthropies has catalysed a truly global movement to curb the deadly toll of tobacco. Its efforts are already having a real impact on the world’s health, livelihoods and life expectancy. We are proud to work with many partners, on the ground in priority, high burden tobacco use countries and worldwide, but especially the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the World Health Organization, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the CDC Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The success of our combined efforts stems from Michael Bloomberg’s vision and real-world pragmatism in focusing on proven policies to reduce tobacco use.

We also acknowledge substantial contributions made by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Bloomberg Initiative. Together they have enabled WLF to mount more than 75 mass media tobacco control public education campaigns in 20 countries since the initiative began. Although we have made great strides in the last five years, billions of people still live without the protection of effective tobacco control policies. At World Lung Foundation, we look forward to future advances in tobacco control that will save millions of lives.”

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of mortality in the world today. It is responsible for more than five million deaths each year, 80% of which occur in low and middle-income countries. It is responsible for one in ten preventable deaths worldwide and is also a primary contributor to the global non-communicable disease epidemic. As a principle partner in the Initiative, World Lung Foundation shares its endorsement and support for the World Health Organization’s M-P-O-W-E-R strategies to reduce tobacco consumption.

The Initiative works through strategic partnerships and a $375 million investment to help governments in low- and middle-income countries - that are home to the majority of the world’s smokers - implement six proven interventions to reduce tobacco use. Scientific research confirms that smoking rates fall when:
• people are protected from tobacco smoke
• smokers are offered help to quit
• awareness about the dangers of tobacco is raised among smokers through warning labels
• awareness about the dangers of tobacco is raised among smokers and non-smokers through public education campaigns
• tobacco advertising bans are enforced, and
• the price of tobacco products is raised

The Five Years of Progress report is available to download or view at http://www.mikebloomberg.com/FiveYearsOfProgress.

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About World Lung Foundation

World Lung Foundation was established in response to the global epidemic of lung disease, which kills 10 million people each year. The organization also works on maternal and infant mortality reduction initiatives. WLF improves global health by improving local health capacity, by supporting operational research, by developing public policy and by delivering public education. The organization’s areas of emphasis are tobacco control, maternal and infant mortality prevention, tuberculosis, asthma, and child lung health. For more information, please visit worldlungfoundation.org

For more information, please contact Jorge Alday, World Lung Foundation, at +1.212.639.0070 or jalday@worldlungfoundation.org.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies works primarily to advance five areas globally: the Arts, Education, the Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. In 2010, $279 million in grants were distributed and $20 million was invested in advocacy related initiatives. For more information please visit www.mikebloomberg.com

For more information, please contact Mike Marinello, Bloomberg Philanthropies, at +1.212.205.0131 or mikem@bloomberg.org.