WHO report: 1 person died every 6 seconds**

On July 10, the World Health Organization released the 2013 Global Tobacco Epidemic Report. The report pointed out that over the past five years, the number of people covered by various restrictions on tobacco use has more than doubled to 2.3 billion people. At the same time, the report pointed out that if tobacco cannot be effectively controlled, one billion people will die from tobacco-related diseases this century.

Since 2008, WHO has released the global tobacco epidemic report and conducted a comprehensive assessment of the efforts made by various countries in the area of ​​anti-smoking. It is intended to urge all countries to increase anti-smoking efforts and protect health. According to WHO statistics, 6 million people die from tobacco every year globally. Smoking can cause cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Dr. Batterchel, Director of the WHO's Division of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention, said: "Tobacco causes about 6 million deaths per year, and it kills tobacco every 6 seconds. This is the only one that can be avoided today. Cause of death. If this situation continues, there will be 1 billion people die of tobacco this century."

Tobacco has prevailed in the world for more than 200 years. It was only in the twentieth century that humans began to realize the harm of tobacco to health. In recent years, WHO has strengthened its efforts in tobacco control. In 2003, the World Health Assembly passed the "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control", which played an active role in promoting global tobacco control and reducing tobacco harm to humans. In 2008, WHO also clearly stipulated six specific tobacco control measures. The specific contents were: monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, protecting people from the harm of tobacco smoke, providing smoking cessation assistance, alerting tobacco harm, prohibiting tobacco advertising, Promotions and sponsorships, and increase tobacco taxation. Dr. Betchel, Director of the WHO's Noncommunicable Disease Prevention Division, said: "From 2007 to 2010, 41 countries had implemented at least one of the highest levels of tobacco control measures and adopted and implemented this measure. Of the 41 countries, it is estimated that at least 7.4 million people were saved."

The report shows that in the past five years, a total of 20 countries have required prominent warnings on tobacco packaging, and 32 countries have passed regulations on total smoking bans in all public places. The report specifically mentioned the ban on smoking in public places promulgated in Harbin last year, arguing that this is a positive effort by China in the area of ​​smoking bans.

The report also pointed out that in order to achieve the goal of reducing tobacco use by 30% by 2025, more countries need to implement tobacco control programmes on a wider scale. Dr. Justin Schott, a WHO non-smoking expert, said: “Increase taxes on the tobacco industry is one of the most effective methods. Unfortunately, this measure has not been well implemented. Now it is only implemented in 32 countries. With a population of 5.3 million, it only accounts for 8% of the global population. In this regard, there is still much room for improvement.”

The report points out that if the current trend continues, by 2030, the number of people who die from smoking-related diseases will rise to 8 million every year, of which 80% will be in low- and middle-income countries. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan pointed out: “If we cannot unite and prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, the increasingly aggressive tobacco industry will continue to lure young people and young people into smoking. Every country has the responsibility to protect its people from exemption. Tobacco-related illness, disability, and death."