More than 60,000 people in Myanmar die annually from diseases such as cancer, heart attack, hypertension and respiratory problems resulting from tobacco use, said Yangon mayor Maung Maung Soe.
"Over seven million people die yearly in the world from the consumption of tobacco and tobacco-related products. According to data, Myanmar sees over 60,000 deaths stemming from cancer, heart disease, hypertension and respiratory diseases," said the mayor.
In the world, about 1 million people die of indirect use of tabacco while about half the number of smokers die from chain smoking.
According to official data in Myanmar, 43.8 percent of men aged 15 and above and 8.4 percent of women consumed tobacco while 62.2 percent of men and 24.1 percent of women consumed tobacco products (chewing betel quid) in 2014.
In 2016, 21 percent of males aged between 13 and 15 and 2 percent of females consumed tobacco while 11 percent of males and 2 percent of females consumed tobacco products (chewing betel quid).
According to the World Health Organization, there are about 246 million smokers and 290 people who consume tobacco products in Southeast Asia. Without systematic control of the spread of tobacco use, up to 8.3 million people will die by 2030. Over 80 percent of the deaths will occur in low-income or fair income countries.
The mayor stressed the need for the region to be tobacco free, adding that preventive measures started in 2016 such as conducting educative talks, campaigns and courses.
