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Alert over tobacco, African cancer toll
Source: Agencies |
November 12, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AFRICA faces a surge in cancer deaths unless action is taken in the next decade to stem rising smoking levels in a continent where anti-tobacco laws are rare, United States scientists said yesterday.
More than half the continent will double its tobacco use within 12 years if current trends continue, the American Cancer Society said in a report which found that 90 percent of people living there have no protection from passive smoking.
Some African countries have smoking bans but most do not and smoke-free public areas are few.
"For the first time in history, we have the tools in hand to prevent a pandemic," Otis W. Brawley, the ACS's chief medical officer, said in a statement with the report, which was presented at a cancer conference in Tanzania.
"Smoke-free public places are one example of a low-cost and extremely effective intervention that must be implemented now to protect health."
Many developed countries have tightened laws in recent years to make smoking unacceptable or illegal in public places like bars, restaurants, offices and on public transport as a way to protect non-smokers and to discourage the habit.
Passive smoking is known to cause cancer in adults and lung problems such as pneumonia in young children.
The ACS estimates that smoking will kill 6 million people worldwide in 2010 and 72 percent of those killed will be from low- and middle-income countries.
More than half the continent will double its tobacco use within 12 years if current trends continue, the American Cancer Society said in a report which found that 90 percent of people living there have no protection from passive smoking.
Some African countries have smoking bans but most do not and smoke-free public areas are few.
"For the first time in history, we have the tools in hand to prevent a pandemic," Otis W. Brawley, the ACS's chief medical officer, said in a statement with the report, which was presented at a cancer conference in Tanzania.
"Smoke-free public places are one example of a low-cost and extremely effective intervention that must be implemented now to protect health."
Many developed countries have tightened laws in recent years to make smoking unacceptable or illegal in public places like bars, restaurants, offices and on public transport as a way to protect non-smokers and to discourage the habit.
Passive smoking is known to cause cancer in adults and lung problems such as pneumonia in young children.
The ACS estimates that smoking will kill 6 million people worldwide in 2010 and 72 percent of those killed will be from low- and middle-income countries.
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