The Guardian: Every tobacco death is an avoidable tragedy. The epidemic must stop here
Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization

“…By raising tax on tobacco products, requiring graphic warning labels, conducting hard-hitting mass media campaigns, and banning tobacco industry advertising and marketing, countries can improve the health of their citizens, reduce health care costs, and prevent the tobacco industry from addicting another generation of children. … We need to work together, as allies in global health, to fight to protect people from the dangers of tobacco. … I urge global leaders convening in India [for the 7th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control] to see this moment as an opportunity to bend the course of public health history and commit to returning home with a renewed dedication to fully implement the WHO Framework Convention. To make the event effective, it is vital that governments recognize the inherent conflict between public health and the interests of the tobacco industry. Representatives from the latter should be completely excluded from government delegations. Every death from tobacco is an avoidable tragedy. It is our task to reverse the tide, effecting an irreversible decline in the number of such deaths…” (11/6).