|
Anti-smoking measures have become so widespread that
they now affect some 3.8 billion people -- just over half the world's
population, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
But the WHO called for more action, warning that tobacco use could kill
a billion people or more over the course of the 21st century "unless
urgent action is taken."
"If current trends continue, by 2030 tobacco will kill more than eight
million people worldwide each year, with 80 percent of these premature
deaths among people living in low- and middle-income countries," it
added.
The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic was launched in Uruguay as
the health body sought to highlight the country's legislation against
smoking that now faces a lawsuit by tobacco giant Philip Morris.
|
|
 |
|
"The tobacco epidemic continues to expand because of ongoing tobacco
industry marketing, population growth in countries where tobacco use is
increasing, and the extreme addictiveness of tobacco that makes it
difficult for people to stop smoking once they start," said Ala Alwan,
WHO assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental
health.
He noted that tobacco remains the biggest cause of preventable death
worldwide, killing nearly six million people and costing hundreds of
billions of dollars in economic damage each year.
Health warnings on cigarette packs protect more than a billion people in
19 countries, almost double the figures over the past two years,
according to the report.
It said graphic ads were more effective than those only containing text,
especially in countries with low literacy rates, and recommended that
images be changed periodically to ensure they have an impact.
The size of the warning also has an effect, and the WHO noted that
Uruguay had the largest images on cigarette packs, covering 80 percent
of the surface, followed by Mexico (65 percent) and Mauritius (also 65
percent).
In Canada, the first country to introduce large health warnings on
cigarette packs in 2001, three out of 10 former smokers said they were
motivated to quit by the labels while a quarter said they helped them
quit, according to the report.
Similar trends were also noted in Australia, Brazil, Singapore and
Thailand.
Tobacco advertising and sponsorship, a favorite target of critics, saw
comprehensive bans passed in Chad, Colombia and Syria between 2008 and
2010. And nearly 28 percent of the world's population -- 1.9 billion
people in 23 countries -- are now exposed to national anti-smoking
campaigns.
Some 425 million people in 19 countries -- six percent of the world's
population -- are now "now fully protected against tobacco industry
marketing tactics," 80 million more than in 2008, according to the WHO
report.
"The number of people now protected by tobacco control measures is
growing at a remarkable pace," said Alwan.
He attributed the progress to the growing impact of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control. Entered into force in February 2005, the
treaty has 168 signatories and 174 parties.
While 101 countries ban tobacco print, television or radio advertising,
both direct or indirect, the WHO considers the number to still be
insufficient, noting that 74 countries (38 percent) have no or minimal
restrictions on advertising.
|