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Posted on 05/28/2004 6:39:37 AM PDT by FourPeas

GENEVA (AP) — One person dies from a tobacco-related disease every 6 1/2 seconds, the head of the U.N. health agency warned Friday ahead of its annual World No Tobacco Day.

"This is occurring mostly in developing countries, adding significantly to their burden of disease and poverty," said Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the World Health Organization. "The world cannot accept such easily preventable human and economic losses."

Tobacco use kills 4.9 million people annually, and that figure is expected to double in the next 20 years.

Many governments organize events every May 31 to commemorate World No Tobacco Day, meant to spotlight the fight against smoking-related illnesses.

Although WHO often holds anti-tobacco events at its Geneva headquarters, it doesn't plan any this year. Monday is a Swiss national holiday, and U.N. offices here will be closed.

WHO studies have long found that poorer people tend to smoke more in both developing and developed countries. They spend a higher proportion of their household income on tobacco products, often ahead of other basic needs such as food, health care and education.

"Consumption is inversely related to the socio-economic level — it goes up as the standard of living goes down," Lee noted.

The number of tobacco users is still increasing and is expected to hit 1.7 billion in 2025, up from the current 1.3 billion.

Smoking is particularly widespread in developing countries, where 84 percent of smokers live. It places a huge burden on health services in countries which can ill-afford the extra cost.

In Egypt, WHO said, the annual cost of treating tobacco related diseases is estimated at US$546 million.

WHO said tobacco can also damage countries' economies because of increased health care costs; loss of foreign exchange, as most countries are net tobacco importers; loss of tax revenue due to smuggling; and damage to the environment from tobacco cultivation.

"I urge everyone to think of how we can help to break the vicious circle of the poor consuming tobacco more, and tobacco consumption increasing poverty," Lee said. "Everyone can contribute to curtailing the production and use of tobacco products."

Even tobacco farmers — particularly those in developing countries — are not benefiting from tobacco sales.

"A big part of the health and economic costs related to tobacco are endured by small farmers and their families that grow the tobacco crop," said Catherine le Gales-Camus, the WHO noncommunicable diseases chief.

Lee also urged more countries to sign up to WHO's landmark anti-tobacco treaty, which aims to direct policies to reduce the damage tobacco does to health and economies. WHO brokered the treaty in May 2003, after years of negotiations.

Of WHO's 192 member states, 118 — including the United States — have already signed the accord. Sixteen have ratified it, although U.S. lawmakers have not yet done so.

"Once the convention comes into force — 90 days after its 40th ratification — it will become a powerful means of controlling this entirely unnecessary threat to health and welfare," Lee added. "Countries should lose no time in signing and ratifying the convention."

Countries have until June 29 to sign the treaty, which also sets out provisions and minimum standards signatories will have to respect in their tobacco control programs.

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