The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan has stated that tobacco is a threat to all of humanity, as its farming, processing and consumption increases poverty and reduces the quality of life. Chan made the disclosure in a press release to marks the World No Tobacco Day.
According to her "Tobacco threatens us all; Tobacco exacerbates poverty, reduces economic productivity, contributes to poor household food choices, and pollutes indoor air."
Chan therefore calls on governments to enforce stiffer tobacco control measures such as increase in excise taxes, prohibition of smoking in public and work place and outright banning of marketing and advertising of tobacco products.
According to available record, more than 7 million people die yearly as a result of the use of tobacco.
