Tobacco.org

WHO officer applauds smoking ban 

By the time you have finished reading this sentence, within only a few seconds, two more people in the world will have lost their lives as a result of smoking-related diseases.

Fortunately, Turkey has become a model for those trying to fight against this avoidable but significant factor in death worldwide, according to Dr. Toker Ergüder from the World Health Organization (WHO). When traveling in the francophone parts of Europe, you may hear the saying “fumer comme un Turc” (to smoke like a Turk) much like the English phrase “to smoke like a chimney” to describe someone who smokes too much. . . .

In an interview with Sunday's Zaman, Ergüder said there has been an immense transformation in Turkey concerning the state's approach towards tobacco products and their deadly effects on users. “With this huge change in the way Turkey undertakes its collective campaign to reduce tobacco usage in the country, it has become an example not only for developing countries but also for developed ones, too,” he said, commending the state's policies.

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