Tobacco kills 1.5 million women annually: UN
May 31st, 2010 - 3:27 pm ICT by IANSTehran, May 31 (IANS) Use of tobacco kills more than 1.5 million women in world every year, and the number could rise to 2.5 million in the next two decades, the UN has warned.
“Most deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Without concerted action, that number could rise to 2.5 million women by 2030,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
Ban asked the governments to “turn back the global tobacco epidemic” and “address this public health threat”.
“Tobacco use is not stylish or empowering. It is ugly and deadly,” IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
The UN said the number of women smokers could grow as the tobacco industry was spending heavily on advertisements that target women and link tobacco use with beauty and liberation.
“Although fewer than one out of 10 women are smokers, that still adds up to an estimated 200 million women around the world,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation, the number of girls and boys who smoked was about equal in half the 151 countries surveyed. This is worrisome since the young who smoke are likely to continue in adulthood.
“Evidence indicates that the prevalence rate of tobacco use among women is on the rise in some countries,” the statement said.
- WHO urges countries to tackle tobacco epidemic - May 30, 2011
- Tobacco kills over five million every year, says UN - May 31, 2009
- Only 5.4 pct of world's people covered by smoke free laws in 2008: WHO - Dec 09, 2009
- Smoking related health problems hampering China's economic growth - Jan 07, 2011
- Want to quit smoking? Get professional help - Jan 04, 2011
- China may raise tobacco price to curb consumption - Mar 12, 2012
- Beware! Passive smoking riskier than you think (May 31 is World No Tobacco Day) - May 30, 2012
- Smoking fatalities set to triple in China - Jan 07, 2011
- Say Yes To Life: Say No To Tobacco - May 27, 2010
- 'Cigarettes will be stubbed out by 2050' - Jan 09, 2011
- Smoking can kill 40 mn more people - Oct 05, 2011
- Tobacco use higher among rural women in India - May 30, 2010
- Cuba launches world's first lung cancer retardant - Sep 07, 2011
- Rockland County, NY reminds residents of World No Tobacco Day on May 31 - May 25, 2010
- China to curb smoking with increased taxes - Mar 10, 2012
Tags: 10 women, 5 million, adulthood, ban ki moon, concerted action, girls and boys, global tobacco epidemic, irna news agency, liberation, middle income countries, prevalence rate, public health threat, target women, tehran, tobacco industry, tobacco use, un secretary general, women around the world, women smokers, world health organisation