The Star Malaysia

About World No Tobacco Day?

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> World No Tobacco Day is observe ed annual- ly on May 31 to highlight health and addiction issues related to tobac co use.

This year's theme is Tobacco – a threat to developmen­t.

> The percentage of tobacco users has dropped since 1990 but global smoking deaths have gonne up by 5%. Deaths attributed to tobacco topped 6.4 million in 22015.

WHO estimates thhat half of those who smoke daily will die prematurel­y unless they quit. > Smoking causes 1 in 10 deaths worldwide, half of those fatalities in China, India, the US and Russia. > In Malaysia, smoking-related death accounts for about 20% of deaths annually.

More than 15% of hospitalis­ations are due to smoking-related illnesses.

> The three main smoking-related diseases are coronary heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructiv­e pulmonary disease.

The Government spent RM3bil treating these ailments in 2010. > Moving forward, the Health Ministry is looking at increasing tobacco tax.

In March, the Government announced plans to increase cigarette prices from RM17 to RM21.50 a pack to deter smokers, especially youths.

> A 2015 survey showed that five million, or 22.8%, of the population aged 15 and above were smokers.

> Malaysia boldly aims to:

● Reduce smoking prevalence to 15% or lower by 2025; and

● Be a smoke-free nation by 2045.

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