Azerbaijan, Baku, May 31 / Trend, I.Isabalayeva /
Approximately 5 million people die from tobacco-related diseases every year, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his appeal to the world countries on the World No Tobacco Day, UN DPI Office in Azerbaijan told Trend on Thursday.
According to the appeal, 600,000 people die from exposure to second-hand smoke every year.
Ban Ki-moon said tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death. People die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease.
As more and more countries move to fully meet their obligations under the WHO FCTC, the tobacco industry's efforts to undermine the treaty are becoming more and more energetic.
Meanwhile, the industry's attempts to undermine the treaty continue on other fronts, particularly with regard to countries' attempts to ban smoking in enclosed public places and to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
On World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following year, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic.