Tobacco Kills 10 Million People A Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Tobacco is expected to cause some 10 million deaths annually by 2030 if the current smoking patterns do not change, according to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
Presently, there are about 1.1 billion smokers throughout the world and four million die each year due to their habits, it said.
In welcoming the move for smokers to sue tobacco companies, MMA president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin said it was a major milestone for Malaysians suffering from ailments from smoking to have the right to sue tobacco companies.
A local newpaper reported Friday that Malaysians suffering from ailments caused by smoking would be able to sue tobacco companies when Malaysia ratifies the international Framework Conventioan on Tobacco Control in October.
"Tobacco will become the leading cause of death and disability, thus causing more deaths worldwide than HIV, TB, maternal mortality, suicide and homicide," Teoh said in a statement here today.
He said the MMA recommended 13 steps for the government to make effective changes to ensure a healthier future for Malaysians by ensuring strong political will and commitment to a "Health First" policy and playing a lead role in Asean and globally.
The measures include continuously increasing tobacco taxes and using a portion of it to support tobacco-free sports, establishing an Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Foundation for tobacco control activities and ASH clubs in all schools and banning the sale of duty-free tobacco products and advertising of tobacco products.
He said the government should also take active measures to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke by increasing smoke-free areas, particularly in the workplace, institute effective control mechanisms on the sale of tobacco products and phase out subsidies provided to the tobacco industry and the farming of tobacco.
Health education and tobacco control programmes should also be increased and tobacco industry participation in any tobacco control initiatives and social development programmes should be eliminated.
The MMA also plans to organise four training courses for trainers in smoking cessation in Selangor, Johor, Perak and Kelantan throughout the year and support all the activities and campaigns by the Health Ministy.
Teoh said that in Malaysia, tobacco caused an estimated 10,000 deaths a year and the prevalence of smoking among adult Malaysian males (49.2 per cent) was higher than the worldwide prevalence of 47 per cent.