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Today we know that tobacco is one or the leading causes of disease and death in the world, and that nicotine is addictive. Normally, it is easy for us to develop a strong and united stance against a leading cause of disease and death. We did this for smallpox. We did this for poliomyelitis. We are doing it for tuberculosis. We continue to stand united against so many other diseases. But standing united against tobacco has not been easy to achieve. The problem is complicated by the addictive properties of nicotine. If the tobacco epidemic is to be contained and eventually reduced, millions of smokers will have to break free from nicotine addiction. This will not be easy in a social environment that encourages children to think that smoking is about a lifetime of freedom, independence and sophistication. Today, we know that one of every three smokers in the world is in the Western Pacific Region. Sales in this part of the world increased dramatically during the 1990s, and major industry advertising efforts are aimed at continuing this trend. The end result is that many people who begin smoking as children will be trapped in a lifetime habit that they will not be able to break. The images for World No-Tobacco Day 1999 captured the essence of breaking free from tobacco. An orchid in an ashtray. A symbol of life not death. A flower instead of ashes. A simple and powerful way to say to smokers, "We care about your health, please break free. Please stop smoking." My message is simple. We can break free. Individuals can break free by stopping smoking, if necessary with the help of smoking cessation programmes. The World Health Organization is committed to supporting smoking cessation programmes that are available, affordable and accessible. Families can break free by parents setting an example for their children. Communities can break free by supporting legislation that bans smoking in public places and bans advertising. The media can break free by insisting that the issue of tobacco control is one that belongs to the arena of public policy. Countries can break free by supporting legislation that will restrict the legitimate use and sale of tobacco in the interest of public health. Together, we can break free from this epidemic of addiction and disease. As we place an orchid in an ashtray today, we speak with a united voice for a tobacco-free world.
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Last Update:2001/12/27 |
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