Asia Pacific Urged to Wage 'All-Out War' on Tobacco

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Sep 17, 2007 09/18/2007

The Asia Pacific region has the fastest growth rate of smoking among children and young women, according to a Yonhap News Agency report quoting a World Health Organization (WHO) official. Shigeru Omi, WHO's Western Pacific director, told the 58th WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee meeting last week that the Asia Pacific had one third of the world's smokers, the highest percentage of male smokers and the fastest increase of smoking among children and young women. Omi provided no detailed statistics to back his claims, but called for an all-out war against tobacco use in the region. The meeting was held over five days on South Korea's Jeju Island. Enditem