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Source The Star Online [06/10/03]

PENANG: Mortality from tobacco consumption is expected to surpass the combined fatalities from malaria, major childhood conditions and tuberculosis in the next century.

State Health (Medical) deputy director Dr Raja Lope Ahmad Raja Ariffin said that four million deaths due to tobacco occurred globally every year.

“Of the estimated 1.2 billion smokers, 75% were from developing countries,” he said when opening the World No Tobacco Day 2003 here yesterday.

He said promotional strategies of tobacco companies which preyed on youths and women, coupled with lack of knowledge on health risks and lack of priority for tobacco control further aggravated the situation.

He said cross-border advertising through the Internet was identified as a major challenge in tobacco control.

Dr Raja Lope said surveys revealed that the initiation age of smoking could be as low as 10 years old with the likelihood of young people trying it out doubling with frequent exposure to watching smoking on television.

He added that the World Health Organisation had urged the entertainment industry to stop promoting cigarettes.

“The film and fashion industries are promoting tobacco by showing scenes of stars smoking and sponsoring fashion shows and accessories bearing tobacco names,” he said.

“This is a very worrying trend and needs urgent attention by every level of society,” Dr Raja Lope said.