In observance of the World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization issued a statement today highlighting the growing risk for tobacco-related illnesses and premature deaths from tobacco in the Western Pacific Region, which has the largest number of smokers of the WHO’s six regions.

According to World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific Shin Young-soo, "In our region, it is estimated that close to half of all men smoke and half of all women and children are regularly exposed to the deadly toxins of second-hand smoke at home and in public places".

In the statement it is estimated that 900 million people in the region are at risk of tobacco-related illness such as lung cancer and heart disease. It is also believed that one in three cigarettes is smoked in Asia Pacific countries.

In response to the growing tobacco epidemic in the region, the World Health Organization is pushing governments to implement laws that will prevent premature deaths from tobacco. Governments are being encouraged to ban indoor smoking, to impose higher taxes on tobacco products and to enforce a comprehensive ban on cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

According to Shin Young-soo, “These are simple policy measures that will save lives and will also result in billions of dollars saved by preventing diseases, productivity losses and deaths from tobacco use”.