WHO: Smoking Kills Someone Every 6.5 Seconds
Marking the annual World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the World Health
Organization (WHO) warned that a person dies from a tobacco-related
illness every 6-1/2 seconds, the Associated Press reported May 28.
"This is occurring mostly in developing countries, adding
significantly to their burden of disease and poverty," said
Lee Jong-wook, director-general of WHO. "The world cannot accept
such easily preventable human and economic losses."
According to WHO, 4.9 million people die each year from tobacco.
The figure is expected to double in the next 20 years.
WHO estimates that there are 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide.
The number is expected to grow to 1.7 billion in 2025.
Lee urged more countries to sign WHO's anti-tobacco treaty. Currently,
118 of WHO's 192 member states have signed the treaty. To date,
16 have ratified it. The deadline for countries to sign the accord
is June 29.
"Once the convention comes into force -- 90 days after its
40th ratification -- it will become a powerful means of controlling
this entirely unnecessary threat to health and welfare," Lee
said. "Countries should lose no time in signing and ratifying
the convention."
|
