Physicians Worldwide Must Declare War Against Tobacco, Says WMA
In a statement to mark World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, the World
Medical Association, representing eight million physicians worldwide,
has condemned tobacco as one of the greatest threats to the health
and safety of mankind.
Dr Delon Human, secretary general of the WMA, said: "There
is indisputable evidence that smoking causes gross damage to the
health of smokers. Even more worrying is that new research has confirmed
the dangers of passive smoking. According to the latest results
of a WHO study done in twelve European countries over the last seven
years, passive smoking causes lung cancer in non smokers."
Approximately 400 billion dollars of income is generated every
year for the manufacturers of this toxic substance. Only one billion
dollars is spent annually on research and development of preventive
health techniques and treatment of tobacco-related illness. If
one considers that such an income could have been used to vaccinate
all the children of the world, it shows what an appalling situation
it is - tobacco is indeed a crime against humanity.
Tragically, the tobacco industry is focusing on the vulnerable
segments of society and the developing countries of the world
to maintain its profits. This year's World No Tobacco Day is aimed
at children and young people. The youth of the world is now the
target market for tobacco manufacturers, and China now has the
highest number of smokers in the world.
We as physicians ask:
- How many people must spend their lives wheezing because of
tobacco-destroyed lungs ?
- How many patients must die of lung cancer ?
- How many precious dollars must be misused to first induce
and then treat illness ?
- How long before the world stops this universal cancer ?
"The medical profession cannot afford to sit back. Physicians
everywhere must declare war against tobacco."
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