Azerbaijan, Baku, May 31 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Women comprise about 20% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's statement on the World No Tobacco Day says.
However, the epidemic of tobacco use among women is increasing in some countries. "Women are a major target of opportunity for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases," Ki-moon said.
Ki-moon believes by responding to WHO's call, governments can reduce the toll of fatal and crippling heart attacks, strokes, cancers and respiratory diseases that have become increasingly prevalent among women.
World No Tobacco Day is one of many other world health awareness days throughout the year organized by the WHO.
The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2010 is "Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women" drawing particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls.
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